The College of Optometrists has opened submissions for its annual Research Excellence Awards, which recognise and celebrate inspirational individuals who are making a significant contribution to the evidence base that underpins good practice, now and in the future.
The College is calling on the optometry community to nominate talented research peers and colleagues for the 2025 awards. Non-members of the College are also eligible to submit nominations as well as College members.
There are five awards that are bow open for public nomination in 2025 – each dedicated to a different area of research.
- The Arthur Bennett Prize: awarded for outstanding research undertaken anywhere in the world. This award is open to members and non-members.
- The Neal Charman Medal: awarded for excellent research at a level above postgraduate, undertaken by a College member.
- The Philip Cole Prize: awarded for practice-based research undertaken by a College member.
- The Frank Petticrew Award for Contact Lens Research, Practice or Education in Optometry: awarded for outstanding research or clinical case studies undertaken by College members relating to contact lens that have value for clinical education.
- The George Giles Postgraduate Research Prize: awarded for outstanding postgraduate research by College members.
Michael Bowen, Director of Knowledge and Research at The College of Optometrists, commented: “We’re calling on members of the College and the wider eye health community alike to nominate colleagues who have led or been involved with outstanding research, from postgraduate level through to senior researchers. The College’s Research Excellence Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the outstanding achievements of optometrists working in the field of eye health and vision research. Research forms the foundation of clinical and professional practice and plays a critical role in the advancement of the profession.”
The College’s Research Excellence Awards are among the most prestigious prizes for research in optometry and eye health in the UK and Europe.
The awards are now open for nominations until Monday 30th June 2025.
Find out more and submit a nomination for the College’s Research Excellence Awards visit Research Excellence Awards - College of Optometrists.
