Press Release

 

CLEVER Eye Institute Nominated for the Euretina Innovation Award in Science & Medicine

 

SLIDELL, Louisiana, October 1, 2013 - The CLEVER Eye Institute of Slidell, Louisiana was nominated as the United States finalist in the international competition for the 2013 Euretina Innovation Award in Science & Medicine, which took place on September 27, 2013 in Hamburg, Germany during World Retina Day at the 13th Annual Euretina Congress. The Euretina Congress is the official organization for the more than 4,000 delegates of the European Society of Retinal Specialists, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. This prestigious event included competitors from five research groups representing France, Germany, Israel, Switzerland, and the United States. The winner of the competition was Dr. Sonja Kleinlogel of Switzerland who described optogenetic techniques for gene therapy.

 

The CLEVER Eye Institute was represented at the Euretina Congress by Michael K. Smolek, PhD, FARVO who is the Director of Research at CLEVER. During the Innovation Awards session, Dr. Smolek presented an oral report on "Biologically-Active Vitamins for the Repair of Retinal Microvascular Damage," along with co-authors Neil F. Notaroberto, MD; Arley G. Jaramillo, MD; and Lisa R. Pradillo, OD, The co-authors are investigators at the CLEVER Eye Institute as well as clinicians with EyeCare 20/20 of Louisiana located in the New Orleans metropolitan area. Pamlab of Covington, Louisiana provided research support for this project.

 

Founded in 2011, the mission of the CLEVER Eye Institute is to investigate innovative and overlooked approaches to improve vision and to end blindness. For additional information about our mission, visit the CLEVER Eye Institute website at www.clevereyeinstitute.com.