Oberdorfer Award in Low Vision Research
This award recognizes the seminal contributions of Michael D. Oberdorfer, PhD in support of low vision research. Dr. Oberdorfer served for many years at the National Eye Institute (NEI) as director of Strabismus, Amblyopia and Visual Processing and director of Low Vision and Blindness Rehabilitation for the NEI Extramural Research Program. His support of low vision research led to an expansion of funded grants in that field. First presented in 2012, the Oberdorfer Award in Low Vision Research is supported by the Lighthouse Guild through the ARVO Foundation.
Awardees will receive a $1,250 honorarium, an inscribed award and invitations to several special events at the ARVO Annual Meeting.
Eligibility
Eligible candidates are invited speakers to the ARVO Annual Meeting who will be presenting a low vision topic. The award recipient will present a lecture during an invited speaker session (symposium, minisymposium or cross-sectional group session) at the ARVO Annual Meeting.
Application process
There is no application process for this award.
Review and selection process
The Annual Meeting Program Committee (AMPC) nominates invited speakers presenting a low vision-related topic. A selection committee evaluate and score the nominees based on the role they have played in furthering low-vision research.
Timeline
Recipients are notified in February.
2025 recipient
Jacque L. Duncan, MD, FARVO, Chair and Distinguished Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco, is also chair of the Foundation Fighting Blindness Scientific Advisory Board, and co-chair of the FFB Clinical Consortium Executive Committee. Duncan has expertise in the diagnosis and management of patients with retinal degenerations including age-related macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, cone-rod dystrophy and Stargardt disease. She has a strong interest in developing imaging and monitoring technologies to better evaluate both the progress of disease and the efficacy of emerging therapies. She worked with FFB Leadership to launch the FFB Consortium which comprises over 48 clinical centers and over 160 investigators with expertise in the care and study of patients with inherited retinal degenerations.
