The College of Optometrists bestow several annual Research Excellence Awards to recognise achievement and celebrate outstanding contributions to research in the fields of optometry, optics and vision science. The Awards Selection Panel met earlier this year to review nominations, including the Phillip Cole Prize for practice-based research, the College’s annual award for practice-based research by a College member.
The Philip Cole Prize recognises excellence in practice-based research to the evidence base for optometry. This national prize is awarded annually to College members who have undertaken notable research in their practice and are dedicated to enriching their profession and improving their field.
MREH is delighted to announce that Paddy Gunn was awarded the Philip Cole Prize in 2021 for his research into new community schemes for eye health and increasing accessibility of eye care services in the UK.
The 2022 prize was awarded to Rosie Creer, for her research into cross-hospital collaboration in investigating optometrist’s extended scope of practice in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
Due to the pandemic, the official ceremony has recently been able to take place, allowing for the appreciation of previous award recipients. Fortuitously, both winners were able to attend this year’s Diploma ceremony together to celebrate their incredible achievements.
MREH’s Chief Executive, Jane Roylance, expressed her pride: “We are fortunate to have staff working on research across the hospital and I would like to mark the achievements of Paddy and Rosie in winning this prize in 2021 and 2022, but also want to thank them for their ongoing dedication to research which we hope will benefit patients in the future.”
