![]() The class of the Ninth Annual Emerging Vision Scientists Day (see names in the box below) who participated in the AEVR and NAEVR events reflecting the breadth of breakthrough vision research and were nominated by their Departments of Ophthalmology or Schools/Colleges of Optometry from across the nation |
On September 20, AEVR’s Research Saving Sight, Restoring Vision Initiative hosted the Ninth Annual Emerging Vision Scientists (EVS) Day, which was supported by a grant from Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB). The event, held during Healthy Vision Month, took place as Congress was working to finalize Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 appropriations before the start of the fiscal year on October 1.
30 early-stage investigators from around the country, reflecting the breadth of basic and clinical vision research and who have not yet received their first investigator-initiated (R01) grant from the NEI, displayed posters of their research in an evening Congressional Reception held in the Rayburn House Office Building Courtyard. Earlier in the day, the EVSs had attended AEVR’s annual AMD Awareness Week Congressional Briefing to learn how to communicate the value of their research to a lay audience including Congressional staff.
AEVR Executive Director Dan Ignaszewski hosted a brief program that included comments from RPB President Brian Hofland, PhD and Shefa Gordon, PhD, Director of the Office of Program Planning and Analysis at the National Eye Institute (NEI).
Before the reception, AEVR staff prepared the EVSs on effective communication techniques and considerations for sharing their research, and the importance of sharing with Congressional staff about how federal support for basic science has led to advancements in the mitigation, diagnosis, and treatment of a range of conditions that lead to impaired vision and blindness.
![]() Shefa Gordon, PhD, Director of the Office of Program Planning and Analysis at the National Eye Institute (NEI), addresses the audience |
![]() Brian Hofland, PhD, President of Research to Prevent Blindness |
![]() John Graham (Senate Special Committee on Aging) with Onur Olcucu, MD (Tufts Medical Center) |
![]() Deepayan Kar, PhD, University of Alabama at Birmingham speaks with an attendee |
The 2023 EVS Participants included: Louay Almidani, MD (Wilmer Eye Institute/Johns Hopkins University) |
NAEVR Emerging Vision Scientist (EVS) Advocacy Day
Following the September 20 AEVR events, on September 21 the 30 EVS participants conducted 55 Congressional office visits, including several with Members of Congress, who wanted to hear directly about the concerns of early-stage investigators. NAEVR’s Executive Director Dan Ignaszewski and Director of Government Relations David Epstein, along with Salewa Akintilo from AVRO, each joined several visits throughout the day.
In their meetings, the EVS advocates thanked Congress for NIH/NEI funding increases in the FY2016-2023 timeframe and asked that Congress finalize FY2024 appropriations before the start of the fiscal year on October 1. They also cautioned about the detrimental impact that Continuing Resolutions (CRs) can have on research, including delaying awards or requiring researchers to seek “bridge” funding while awaiting grant monies.
The advocates reiterated NAEVR’s request for FY2024 NIH funding of $50.1 billion and NEI funding of $975 million, which is necessary to rebuild the NEI’s base funding level after years of increases that have failed to keep pace with inflation. They also expressed that although the Senate-passed funding level of $896.5 million—the same level as in FY2023— is still short of what is needed, it is preferable to the House bill that while also flat-funding the NEI, makes severe cuts to the NIH funding level that would impact the ability of the NIH to conduct its mission to support the larger medical research community.
Several of the EVS participants shared a one-page graphic of their research emphasizing the potential benefit and return on the federal investment.
The participants also offered to serve as a reference on vision issues for their Congressional offices and invited Members and staff to visit their department or School/College for lab tours.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|