Final Report Summary - EUROVISIONNET (Visual impairment and degeneration: A road-map for vision research within Europe)
Executive summary:
The impact on the notable accomplishments of vision research and ophthalmology in clinical and basic research and patient care in Europe are obviously underestimated in comparison to other areas of the life sciences and medicine. This lack of visibility to political decision makers, the general public, private patrons and public funding bodies is detrimental to the European vision community. To address this issue the European FP7-supported coordination and support action "Visual impairment and degeneration: A road-map for vision research within Europe ('Eurovisionnet')" aimed to coordinate and consolidate vision research activities and policies in order to overcome this national fragmentation.
The main objectives addressed under this action were:
- Better definition and acceptance of vision research within the scientific community
- Overcome the existing fragmentation of European vision research efforts
- Reduce duplication of research efforts
- Increase communication between clinical and basic researchers
- Foster collaborations between academic research and industry
- Support clarity regarding national and international policy mandates relating to clinical research activities
- Develop a better educational concept in the vision research community
The main results were:
- Bringing together the coordinators of European funded research projects
- Raise awareness for age-related blinding disorders and rare eye diseases, that have a major impact on the European society
- Development of better Private-Public-Partnerships in Vision Research
- To stress the importance of professional clinical trials in ophthalmology
- Round table of the major European ophthalmological societies
- Importance to disseminate research results, perform professional information policies and the better integration of patient organisations
- Development of better career paths for young investigators
In summary; 'EUROVISIONNET' opened a first opportunity to better integrate the European vision research and ophthalmology community. Further steps may be necessary to give this specific field a visibility it deserves according to the societal challenges in the near future.
List of websites:
http://www.eurovisionnet.eu
The impact on the notable accomplishments of vision research and ophthalmology in clinical and basic research and patient care in Europe are obviously underestimated in comparison to other areas of the life sciences and medicine. This lack of visibility to political decision makers, the general public, private patrons and public funding bodies is detrimental to the European vision community. To address this issue the European FP7-supported coordination and support action "Visual impairment and degeneration: A road-map for vision research within Europe ('Eurovisionnet')" aimed to coordinate and consolidate vision research activities and policies in order to overcome this national fragmentation.
The main objectives addressed under this action were:
- Better definition and acceptance of vision research within the scientific community
- Overcome the existing fragmentation of European vision research efforts
- Reduce duplication of research efforts
- Increase communication between clinical and basic researchers
- Foster collaborations between academic research and industry
- Support clarity regarding national and international policy mandates relating to clinical research activities
- Develop a better educational concept in the vision research community
The main results were:
- Bringing together the coordinators of European funded research projects
- Raise awareness for age-related blinding disorders and rare eye diseases, that have a major impact on the European society
- Development of better Private-Public-Partnerships in Vision Research
- To stress the importance of professional clinical trials in ophthalmology
- Round table of the major European ophthalmological societies
- Importance to disseminate research results, perform professional information policies and the better integration of patient organisations
- Development of better career paths for young investigators
In summary; 'EUROVISIONNET' opened a first opportunity to better integrate the European vision research and ophthalmology community. Further steps may be necessary to give this specific field a visibility it deserves according to the societal challenges in the near future.
List of websites:
http://www.eurovisionnet.eu