CooperVision Seeks Proposals for 2023 Science and Technology Awards

CooperVision announced it is now accepting submissions for its 2023 Science and Technology Awards program. The program enables researchers around the world to explore new dimensions in vision care, with the goal of translating innovative ideas into practical solutions.

Each year, CooperVision determines specific areas of focus for the Science and Technology Awards program. In 2023, submissions will be considered for the following subjects:

• Understanding childhood myopia development, including pathogenesis, mechanisms, and risk factors 
• New methods to prevent the onset of myopia, including prophylactic technologies and novel proposals for glasses, contact lenses, interactive and combination therapies
• Strategies to prevent the development of symptomatology in new contact lens wearers, with an emphasis on diagnosis and early intervention therapies, understanding biochemical changes in newly fitted wearers over time, and controlled release technologies for delivery of beneficial agents, as well as approaches to improve moisture retention
• The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on contact lens fitting and diagnosis, including applications for optometry and orthokeratology (ortho-k) with technologies such as ChatGPT, Bard, and more.

Since 2014, the CooperVision program has made grants totaling more than $2 million to investigate a wide variety of topics that have led to advancements in product design and development, as well as to directly inform approaches in clinical care. For example, research exploring causes and treatment for contact lens discomfort conducted by two past recipients of the Science and Technology Awards has resulted in widespread citations from professional peers. 

Proposals may span proof-of-concept through translational stages and are eligible for two types of awards. The CooperVision Seedling Award is intended for investigation of early-stage concepts for a 1-year period, with a maximum grant of $100,000. The CooperVision Translational Research Award is a 2-year grant for substantive projects with funding up to $400,000.

CooperVision Science and Technology Awards are open to any researcher with principal investigator (PI) status holding an OD, MD, PhD or equivalent degree. Applicants such as postdoctoral fellows with a waiver of PI status must submit appropriate documentation before funding can be disbursed.

Interested applicants must submit a letter of intent before June 23, 2023. If a letter is accepted, an applicant will be invited to submit a full proposal. Additional information and the online application are available at www.coopervision.com/about-us/science-and-technology-awards.