OUR MISSION
Reduce retinal blindness worldwide by funding
programs in research and education.
By the 1980s, RRF had become a voice for retina research in an effort to reduce the incidence of retinal disease, which was fast becoming the leading cause of blindness in developing countries. Undaunted, the Foundation steadily raised funds each year for vision scientists who were nationally recognized for their work in retina research. Government funding for eye research increased dramatically, and the field of retina research matured.
GRANTS
Guidelines | Applications
ESTABLISHED AWARDS
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Award of Merit in Retina Research — The Retina Society
The Award of Merit in Retina Research was established in 1978 by RRF to recognize outstanding vision scientists whose work contributes to knowledge about the retina and retinal diseases. Funding for the Award of Merit in the amount of $50,000 is provided by Retina Research Foundation through a series of endowed gifts that are dedicated to the Award.
The recipient is chosen by the Awards Committee of the Retina Society and the selection criteria are:
- A single outstanding achievement in retina research or
- A potentially significant contribution to new knowledge about the retina its role in the visual process and/or vitreoretinal diseases or disorders.
2020 Russell Van Gelder, MD, PhD
2019 James Fujimoto, PhD
2018 Paul Sternberg, Jr., MD
2017 Michael Klein, MD
2016 Steve Charles, MD
2015 Thomas W. Gardner, MD
2014 Peter A. Campochiaro, MD
2013 Cynthia A. Toth, MD
2012 Richard Spaide, MD
2011 Michael Marmor, MD
2010 Eliot Berson, MD
2009 Mark Humayun, MD, PhD
2008 William Tasman, MD
2007 Lloyd Paul Aiello, MD
2006 Carol Shields, MD
2005 Anthony Adamis, MD
2004 Frederick Ferris, III, MD, and Emily Chew, MD
2003 Stephen Ryan, MD
2002 Bradley Straatsma, MD
2001 no award given
2000 Ronald Klein, MD, MPH, and Barbara Klein, MD, MPH
1999 Lawrence A. Yannuzzi, MD
1998 Joe Hollyfield, PhD
1997 Stuart L. Fine, MD
1996 Gabriel Coscas, MD
1995 D. Jackson Coleman, MD
1994 Francois DeLori, PhD and C. Katherine Dorey, PhD
1993 W. Richard Green, MD
1992 Ingrid Kreissig, MD
1991 Ronald G. Michels, MD and Burt M. Glaser, MD
1990 Matthew M. LaVail, PhD
1989 Matthew D. Davis, MD
1988 Harvey A. Lincoff, MD
1987 Harris Ripps, PhD
1986 J. Donald Gass, MD
1985 Oleg Pomerantzeff, D Eng
1984 Werner K. Noell, MD
1983 Arnall Patz, MD
1982 Harry G. Sperling, PhD
1981 John E. Dowling, PhD
1980 Robert Machemer, MD
1979 Richard W. Young, MD
1978 Charles L. Schepens, MD
Kayser International Award in Retina Research – International SocieTy for Eye Research (ISER)
Made possible by a gift to RRF in honor of Paul Kayser, the RRF Paul Kayser International Award in Retina Research was first presented in 1986. This international award recognizes lifetime achievement by a vision scientist who has made a significant contribution to the understanding of vitreoretinal diseases or disorders. This $50,000 award is given every two years.
2020 Samuel Miao-Sin Wu, PhD
2018 Krzysztof Palczewski, PhD
2016 King-Wai Yau, PhD
2014 Robert E. Marc, PhD
2012 Robert E. Anderson, MD, PhD
2010 Frank Werblin, PhD
2008 John Dowling, PhD
2007 none
2006 Dean Bok, PhD
2005 Judah Folkman, MD, and Gary W. Abrams, MD
2004 Gregory Acland, DMV, Gustavo Aquirre, DMV, Jean Bennett, PhD,
William Hausworth, PhD, Samuel Jacobson, MD, and Albert Maquire, MD
2003 Eugene deJuan, MD, and Wallace Founds, MD
2002 Dennis Davey, PhD
2001 Hilel Lewis, MD
2000 Debora Farber, PhD
1999 Tatsuo Hirose, MD, and Akitoshi Yoshida, MD
1998 Anita Hentrickson, PhD
1997 Jerry Shields, MD
1996 Akimichi Kaneko, MD
1995 Enrique Malbran, MD
1994 Alan C. Bird, MD
1993 Thaddeus Dryja, MD
1992 Alan M. Laties, MD
1991 John P. Sarks, FRCS, and Shirley H. Sarks, FRCS
1990 Neville N. Osborne, PhD, and Berndt J. Ehinger, MD
1989 David Hubel, MD
1988 Denis Baylor, MD
1987 H. Gobind Khorana, PhD
1986 Shomi Bhattacharya, PhD, and Alan F. Wright
RRF Pyron Award – American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS)
The RRF Pyron Award was created by RRF to recognize outstanding vision scientists whose work contributes to knowledge about vitreoretinal disease. Funding for this Award is provided in the amount of $50,000 by Retina Research Foundation. This award was made possible by an estate gift to RRF from Gertrude D. Pyron of San Antonio, Texas. She was an eminent geologist who admired Dr. Alice McPherson’s leadership in vision science. Prior to 2000, the Pyron Award had been named the W. H. Helmerich III Award in honor of his service to the community.
2020 Mark S. Humayun, MD, PhD
2019 Joan M. O’Brien, MD
2018 Joan W. Miller, MD
2017 Paul A. Sieving, MD, PhD
2016 Donald J. D’Amico, MD
2015 Gary W. Abrams, MD
2014 Andrew Schachat, MD
2013 George A. Williams, MD
2012 Daniel F. Martin, MD
2011 Jean Bennett, MD, PhD, and Albert Maguire, MD
2010 Julia Haller, MD
2009 C. Pat Wilkinson, MD
2008 Susan Bressler, MD, and Neil Bressler, MD
2007 Carmen Puliafito, MD
2006 Brooks McCuen, MD
2005 Mark Blumenkranz, MD
2004 Morton F. Goldberg, MD
2003 Lloyd Aiello, MD
2002 Michael Trese, MD
2001 Yasuo Tano, MD
2000 Gholan Peyman, MD
Helmerich Award for Outstanding Achievement in Retina Research – Changed to Pyron Award in 1999
1999 Harry W. Flynn, MD
1998 Stanley Chang, MD
1997 Thomas M. Aaberg, MD
1996 Robert Watzke, MD
1995 George F. Hilton, MD
1992 Christina Enroth-Cugell, MD
1991 Albert Aguayo, FRSC
1990 Seymour Benzer, MD
1989 Torsten N. Wiesel, MD
1988 Alan L. Hodgkin, FRSC
RRF Gonin Lectureship — Club Jules Gonin
The Jules Gonin Lecturer of the Retina Research Foundation is selected by members of Club Jules Gonin every two years. The award recipient is chosen for making a significant contribution to the understanding and treatment of eye diseases. The $20,000 award is presented at the Biennial meetings of Club Jules Gonin.
2018 Morten D. de la Cour, MD
2016 Thomas W. Gardner, MD
2014 Frank G. Holz, MD
2012 José-Alain Sahel, MD
2010 Anthony Adamis, MD, and Napoleone Ferrera, MD
2008 Einar Stefánsson, MD
2006 Alain Gaudric, MD
2004 Leonidas Zografos, MD
2002 Joan Miller, MD
2000 Veit Peter Gabel, MD
1998 Peter Wiedemann, MD
1996 Evangelos Gragoudas, MD
Gonin Medalist — International Council of Ophthalmology University of Lausanne
The Gonin Medal was instituted in 1937 in memory of Swiss-born Jules Gonin, MD, and it is the oldest and most prestigious medal in ophthalmology. Every four years, the ICO Board of Trustees (International Council of Ophthalmology) elects the gold medalist. The diploma of the medal is delivered during a special ceremony in Lausanne at the Jules Gonin Eye Hospital, and the gold medal is presented at the World Ophthalmology Congress. This award is in the amount of $50,000.
2018 Jean-Jacques De Laey, MD PhD
2014 Alice R. McPherson, MD
2010 Alan C. Bird, MD
2006 Alfred Sommer, MD, MHS
2002 Gottfried Naumann, MD
1998 Robert Machemer, MD
1994 Harold L. Ridley
1990 Barrie R. Jones
1986 Akika Nakajima
1982 Alfred Edward Maumenee
1978 Norman Henry Ashton
1974 David G. Cogan
1970 Gerhard Meyer-Schwickerath
1966 Jules François
1962 Hans Goldmann
1958 Alan Woods
1954 Stewart Duke-Elder
1950 Hermenegilde Arruga
1945 Paul Haillart
1941 Alfred Vogt
Charles L. Schepens, MD/AAO Award — co-sponsored by Schepens International Society (SIS)
This award in the amount of $50,000 was created by RRF, Paul Kayser Fund, and SIS to recognize a vision scientist who has contributed new knowledge of the visual process of vitreoretinal diseases and/or has made special contributions to prevent and decrease blindness. The award is named in honor of Charles L. Schepens, MD, a pioneer in the field of ophthalmology who designed and developed many innovative ophthalmic instruments and surgical procedures.
This award and gold medal are presented each year at Retina Subspecialty Day at the meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. The recipient is chosen by a special committee composed of a representative from each of the following: Retina Society, Macula Society, American Society of Retina Specialists, Club Jules Gonin and the Retina Research Foundation or Schepens International Society.
2020 Julia A. Haller, MD
2019 Jean Bennett, MD, PhD and Albert Maguire, MD
2018 Joan W. Miller, MD
2017 Frederick L. Ferris, III, MD
2016 Harry W. Flynn, Jr., MD
2015 Mark S. Blumenkranz, MD
2014 Jerry A. Shields, MD
2013 Lawrence A. Yannuzzi, MD
2012 Alan C. Bird, MD
2011 Stanley Chang, MD
2010 William Tasman, MD
2009 Thomas Aaberg, MD
2008 Harvey Lincoff, MD
Paul Kayser/RRF Global Award — Pan American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO)
Retina Research Foundation and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology (PAAO) are pleased to announce the new Paul Kayser/RRF Global Award. The award will recognize outstanding achievement in visual science with preference given in the specialized field of research on the retina and vitreous.
The purpose of the award is to identify and recognize a vision science professional whose work has made a significant new contribution to knowledge about improving vision and prevention of blindness. RRF established this award in memory of Paul Kayser and to honor his interest in international solutions to the prevention of blindness.
One award will be given every two years in the amount of $50,000 in conjunction with the biennial Pan-American Congresses.
2019 Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, MD
2017 Jennifer Kang-Mieler, PhD
2015 William Harbour, MD
2013 Eduardo Buchele Rodrigues, MD
RRF Cox Macula Society Project — The Macula Society
Each year’s recipient of the RRF Mills and Margaret Cox Macula Society Research Project is selected by the Macula Society’s Research and Education Committee (REC), chaired by David N. Zacks, MD, PhD. Using a scoring system, each committee member reviews the applications in the areas of scientific content, originality, description of the methods, clinical relevance, clarity and overall impact. The results are then automatically tabulated, and the REC discusses the results.
The amount of the annual grant award is $30,000, funded by Retina Research Foundation from endowment earnings of the Cox gift. The research is limited to retinal vascular and macular diseases.
The grant application, along with eligibility and funding guidelines, is available on the Macula Society website (www.maculasociety.org). Macula Society members who have not been a past recipient of a Retina Research Foundation Award are eligible to apply.
2021 Prithvi Mruthyunjaya, MD, MHS
2020 Kathryn L. Pepple, MD, PhD
2019 Steven Yeh, MD
2018 Cagri Besirli, MD, PhD
2017 Mary Elizabeth Hartnett, MD
2016 Christine A. Curcio, PhD
2015 Robyn Guymer, MD
2014 Demetrios G. Vavvas, MD
2013 Kang Zhang, MD, PhD
2012 Stephen Jae Kim, MD, and Stephen Tsang, MD, PhD
2011 J. William Harbour, MD
2010 Rajendra Apte, MD, PhD
2009 Lloyd Paul Aiello, MD
2008-1995
