Glaucoma UK is delighted to announce that this year’s UKEGS Research Award is now open to UKEGS members. The award, funded by Glaucoma UK and UKEGS, offers up to £50,000 for projects aimed at impacting patient care, scientific advancement, or understanding of glaucoma.
The charity will consider the scientific content, presentation, ethical considerations and value for money. Previous recent grants have been awarded to look at supporting optometrists through better guidance for angle closure suspects and promoting trabeculectomy survival after cataract surgery.
To learn more about this award, visit glaucoma.uk/research or contact research@glaucoma.uk to apply for this award or for any questions about this award or other grants. The closing date for applications is 1 August 2024.
Joanne Creighton, Chief Executive of Glaucoma UK, commented: "We are honoured to fund this research in partnership with UKEGS for the benefit of UKEGS members. This award supports innovative glaucoma research that will ultimately lead to improved outcomes for patients. We encourage applications from healthcare professionals in the field of glaucoma who are dedicated to making a positive impact in glaucoma care."
Professor James Morgan, Professor in Ophthalmology and Consultant Ophthalmologist, based at Cardiff University, was awarded the UKEGS grant in 2022. He conducted research into the role of microglia in damaging retinal ganglion cells (RGCs).
Professor Morgan, said: “Thanks to the funding provided by Glaucoma UK and UKEGS, we have found some surprising and important results regarding inhibition of microglial calls and the impact on RGCs. We have already presented this work at the UKEGS conference in November 2023 and an optic nerve conference in Austria in December 2023 and feel it has some significance for care beyond ophthalmology. We are grateful to Glaucoma UK and UKEGS for their support for this exciting work.”
