The Royal College of Ophthalmologists is delighted to announce the continuation of the Ulverscroft David Owen Awards.

The Ulverscroft Foundation gives financial help to Universities which carry out research into the causes of eye diseases; funds eye clinics, hospitals, schools, libraries and other organisations which help visually impaired people. http://www.ulverscroft-foundation.org.uk/

Since 2007 it has supported the Ulverscroft Vision Research Group (UVRG) at the Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health UCL, funding PhD studentships, clinical research training fellowships and academic posts in key disciplines including ophthalmic statistics, to build a hub for academic paediatric ophthalmology and visual sciences.

In memory of David Owen who chaired the Foundation during this period and shaped its relationship with the UVRG, the Foundation is offering in partnership with The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, an annual prize of £500 in recognition of high-quality research in paediatric ophthalmology and visual sciences to promote academic paediatric ophthalmology. The award recognises the team undertaking the research and is accepted on the team’s behalf by the first author.

Previous recipients:

2022 Dr Sohaib Riyaz Rufai and colleagues at The University of Leicester Ulverscroft Eye Unit

2021 Lucinda Teoh and the British Childhood Visual Impairment and Blindness Study Interest Group

2020  Amy Gerrish and her co-authors from Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust

2019 Lola Solebo and her colleagues including the British Congenital Cataract Interest Group

The 2023 award will be presented at the RCOphth Congress, Monday 22 to Thursday 25 May 2023, in Birmingham. A representative of the awarded team will present a talk to explain the impact of the research and how it has contributed to change.

A subgroup of the Academic Sub-committee and the Paediatric Sub-committee

Applications to be submitted to Laurelle Bygraves [email protected] 

Download application form :