Rockville, Md. — The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is pleased to announce its 2012 ARVO Award recipients. These award recipients will be acknowledged at the ARVO 2012 Annual Meeting, May 6 – 10, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Proctor Medal: Peter Sterling, PhD
Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology: John V. Forrester, MD, ChB, FARVO
Cogan Award: Jeffrey L. Goldberg, MD, PhD
Friedenwald Award: Josh Wallman, PhD, FARVO (posthumously)
Proctor Medal and Lecture
ARVO is presenting the Proctor Medal to Peter Sterling, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine for his distinguished career in vision research, touching on a broad range of fundamental topics and providing great insight into the relation between structure and function in visual information processing. Sterling will present the 2012 Proctor Medal Lecture, "Principles of Retinal Design," at the Annual Meeting on Monday, May 7.
Weisenfeld Award and Lecture
ARVO is recognizing John V. Forrester, MD, ChB, FARVO, of the University of Aberdeen for his academic publications relating to clinical ophthalmology, basic eye research, immunology and cell biology. He created from nothing one of the UK's finest academic ophthalmology departments and has trained over 36 PhDs/MDs and mentored many colleagues. Forrester will deliver the 2012 Weisenfeld Award Lecture, "Investigating Ophthalmology with Translational Science," at the Annual Meeting on Monday, May 7.
Cogan Award and Lecture
ARVO is honoring Jeffrey L. Goldberg, MD, PhD, University of Miami Bascom Palmer Eye Institute for his laboratory research directed at neuroprotection and regeneration of retinal ganglion cells, and for contributing significant discoveries about the failure of optic nerve regeneration. Goldberg will present the 2012 Lecture, "Retinal Ganglion Cell Development and Regeneration," on Tuesday, May 8.
Friedenwald Award
ARVO is recognizing Josh Wallman, PhD, FARVO, of City University of New York City College with the 2012 Friedenwald Award for his championing the chick as an animal model for myopia. His research contributed to the acceptance that myopia is not purely genetic, with the demonstration that eye growth is locally regulated and sensitive to the visual environment. Two other key findings include choroidal "accommodation," an alternative way of adjusting ocular defocus, and diurnal rhythms in eye growth, perturbation of which have been linked to abnormal eye growth.
Dr. Wallman passed away on Saturday, March 3, 2012. He will be honored during the ARVO Foundation and Dowling Society Dinner and Awards Gala on Saturday, May 5.
About the Awards
Proctor Medal: Established in 1949 as a memorial to Francis I. Proctor, MD, this award honors outstanding scientific research as applied to ophthalmology. It was the first ophthalmology-related award to honor non-clinicians in the field.
Mildred Weisenfeld Award for Excellence in Ophthalmology: the Weisenfeld Award was established in 1986 as a tribute to Mildred Weisenfeld's contributions to the field, including the founding of Fight for Sight in 1946. The award is presented to an individual in recognition of distinguished scholarly contributions to the clinical practice of ophthalmology.
Cogan Award: Established in 1988 to commemorate David G. Cogan, MD, for his outstanding leadership and commitment to advancing the understanding of human eye disease, this award recognizes a researcher who is 40 years of age or younger, and who has made important contributions to research in ophthalmology or visual science.
Friedenwald Award: Named for Jonas S. Friedenwald, MD, and established in 1957, the award recognizes exceptional scientific research as applied to ophthalmology. His pioneer studies on the pathogenesis of glaucoma, corneal wound healing and diseases of the retina laid the groundwork for future generations of investigators.
The Association for Research and Vision in Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include more than 12,500 eye and vision researchers from over 80 countries. ARVO encourages and assists research, training, publication and knowledge-sharing in vision and ophthalmology.
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