On February 17, JAMA Ophthalmology published a Viewpoint article entitled Moving Beyond COVID-19—How the Pandemic is Associated with Transformations in Research and Careers of the Next Generation of Vision Scientists. Based on the Alliance for Eye and Vision's (AEVR) September 2021 30-minute video conversation with 28 Emerging Vision Scientists (EVSs) about how they have moved beyond initial COVID-19 challenges in their career pathways, the article identifies “workarounds” they have used to continue their clinical and bench research to maintain the momentum of their career pathway.
This article builds on a previous JAMA Ophthalmology article entitled Potential Impact of COVID-19 Disruptions on the Next Generation of Vision Scientists, which was published on July 1, 2021, and documented a September 2020 30-minute video conversation with 22 EVSs (different than in the September 2021 discussion) about the challenges of the clinical and laboratory shutdowns and slowdowns in the initial stages of the pandemic.
Both articles were co-written by former AEVR Executive Director James Jorkasky and AEVR Board President Paul Lee, MD, JD (University of Michigan). Each the September 2020 and 2021 discussion was associated with AEVR’s annual Emerging Vision Scientists Day on Capitol Hill, which is supported by a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness and Novartis. Each year’s 30-minute video COVID Conversation appears on the AEVR Web site.
The Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (AEVR), a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation, educates about the value of federally funded vision research through its sustained effort Research Saving Sight, Restoring Vision Initiative. Visit AEVR’s Web site at www.eyeresearch.org
