The Foundation is pleased to announce a new five year partnership with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to combat diabetic retinopathy.
The National Health and Medical Research Council is Australia's peak body for supporting health and medical research; for developing health advice for the Australian community, health professionals and governments; and for providing advice on ethical behaviour in health care and in the conduct of health and medical research.
Through the partnership, the NHMRC and The Fred Hollows Foundation will support research focusing on diabetic retinopathy by calling for applications for a Centre of Research Excellence scheme.
A Centre of Research Excellence grant is worth $2.5 million over five years.
By 2035 it is predicted that diabetes could be one of the leading causes of blindness. It is already the leading cause of blindness among working age adults.
The world is facing an epidemic of diabetic retinopathy which will overload the already inadequate eye care services in poor countries.
Diabetes is not like cataract; there is no quick fix. An innovative and collaborative approach is therefore required globally to tackle this huge problem.
All people with diabetes should have an annual eye test.
For more information on the application guidelines please visit
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au
or email the Research Unit at The Fred Hollows Foundation.