Congratulations to Abdulmalik Alsaif, Tafadzwa Young-Zvandasara and Blanca Sanz-Magallón, recipients of the 2025/26 Zakarian Award, which we deliver in partnership with Fight for Sight. All three will receive funding totalling more than £45,000 to explore research that could directly improve patient care and contribute to innovation in ophthalmology.
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust resident doctor Abdulmalik Alsaif, said:
“Receiving the Zakarian Award is one of the proudest moments of my career. I am excited to continue contributing research that pushes ophthalmology forward and makes a real difference to the patients who matter most.”
Tafadzwa Young-Zvandasara, consultant ophthalmic surgeon at Newcastle University, explains:
“This award provides an opportunity to explore the use of artificial intelligence to detect and potentially prevent retinal displacement occurring during and after retinal detachment repair.”
Academic clinical fellow at the University of Bristol Blanca Sanz-Magallón, said:
“I am very grateful to Fight for Sight and the Royal College of Ophthalmologists for supporting this work investigating the causes of optic nerve damage. This award will help advance research to improve diagnosis and treatment, ultimately protecting patients’ vision.”
The Zakarian Award supports early-career ophthalmologists to gain experience in vision research and develop projects that strengthen evidence and improve outcomes in eye care. Presented annually in partnership with Fight for Sight, the award provides protected time and funding for clinicians to undertake research, helping to build academic skills and bring frontline clinical insight into the research field. It is named in memory of the late Miss Zakarian.
The next funding round for the Zakarian Award will open later in the spring. You can read more about our awards and scholarships here.