Alcon Research Institute Awards Six Top Scientists with Unrestricted Grants for Research on Eye Disease

For the 29^th year, the Alcon Research Institute (ARI) has selected six doctors to receive awards for their outstanding research contributions in the field of ophthalmology and vision science. These newly added members of the ARI were nominated by previous winners and will receive awards of $200,000 in unrestricted grant money from the ARI to continue their research into the underlying causes of eye disease and will present their research at the 2011 symposium.

"The Alcon Research Institute prides itself on identifying and recognizing the world’s leading researchers in ophthalmology,” said Dr. Stanley Chang, chairman of the Alcon Research Institute, and Edward Harkness professor and chair of Ophthalmology, Columbia University. "The research these brilliant minds are undertaking will have profound effects on our ability as doctors to preserve, restore and enhance sight in the future.”

The 2009 ARI Award winners are:

• Robin Ali, Ph.D. for his extensive body of work studying the effects of gene therapy on visual function. Dr. Ali is a graduate of and professor at UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and faculty, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, England.
• Brenda L. Gallie, M.D. for her distinguished career and research into the genetic causes of retinoblastoma. Dr. Gallie is a graduate of Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada and is now the Head of the Retinoblastoma Program at the Hospital for Sick Children and a senior scientist at the Ontario Cancer Institute, University Health Network, in Toronto, Canada.
• Gregory S. Hageman, Ph.D. for his significant contributions to the study of age-related macular degeneration. Dr. Hageman graduated from the University of Southern California and has been a professor at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa for the past 12 years.
• Mark S. Humayan, M.D., Ph.D. for his groundbreaking research in the development of a retinal prosthetic device. Dr. Humayan has degrees from both Duke University and the University of North Carolina. Currently he is a professor and researcher at the Doheny Eye Institute, University of Southern California Medical School in Los Angeles, California.
• Robert W. Massof, Ph.D. and Eli Peli, MSc, O.D. who will share an award for their impressive research on low vision rehabilitation. Dr. Massof is a graduate of Indiana University and is now a professor and director of the Lions Vision Research & Rehabilitation Center at the Johns Hopkins Wilmer Eye Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Peli is a graduate of the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology and the New England College of Optometry. He currently serves as a professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and as the Moakley Scholar in Aging Eye Research at the Schepens Eye Research Institute in Boston, Massachusetts.

Over the past 28 years, 241 scientists have been honored with the ARI Award, with grants totaling approximately $22 million provided to winners for the advancement of vision research. Each year, five to six awards are granted based on the research achievements of the nominees. Many ARI Awardees have gone on to be recognized with awards from other leading organizations, including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), International Society for Eye Research (ISER) and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS).

About the Alcon Research Institute

The Alcon Research Institute (ARI) supports global advancements in eye health by honoring those who make outstanding research contributions to the vision sciences. The ARI aims to further the study of eye health and create ongoing partnerships with vision researchers around the world. Each year, the ARI identifies exemplary leaders in ophthalmic research and honors each with this prestigious award and a generous, unrestricted grant to fund ongoing research.

About Alcon

With the largest corporate research and development commitment of any eye care company worldwide, Alcon develops pharmaceutical products to treat glaucoma, dry eye, infection, inflammation and allergy; surgical products for cataract, vitreoretinal and refractive procedures, and consumer products in the areas of contact lens care, dry eye and ocular health. In 2008, Alcon invested $618 million to research and develop new products. Over the next five years, Alcon plans to invest at least $3 billion to discover and develop new treatments for conditions and diseases of the eye. For more information about the ARI and Alcon, please visit www.alcon.com.

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