Systematic Research Award

Evidence-based medicine supports quality science

Applications are now open

Preliminary application deadline is 31 May 2025

The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2025 Systematic Research Award (SRA) program. Established in 2022, the SRA aims to encourage high-quality research that documents and codifies the existing knowledge in cataract, refractive and cornea medicine or surgery.

Systematic Research Applications

The SRA is open to all ophthalmologists and researchers (MD, and/or PhD or experienced ophthalmic nurses) who currently hold a full or part-time clinical/research position at a clinical or academic institution. The aim of the SRA is to provide new scholarly output in the field of cataract, refractive & cornea medicine or surgery, focused on the methodology created by the Cochrane Library.

Up to six (6) awards are available, with a total maximum of €10,000, per award.

The 2025 SRA preliminary applications will be accepted until 31 May 2025. Award recipients will be notified by end of September 2025.

How to apply

The Systematic Research Award (“SRA”) aims to produce a high-quality body of research to prepare, collate, analyse, synthesise and report medical research in the field of cataract and refractive medicine or surgery.
To apply, please complete the below linked application form in full. If you have any issues please contact escrs@escrs.org
The initiative shall aim to provide a new scholarly output in the field of cataract & refractive medicine or surgery, focused on the methodology created by the Cochrane Library.
Applicants are encouraged to refer online resources at the Cochrane Library and/or at PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/) and/or with PRISMA (http://www.prisma-statement.org/).
The SRA shall be open to all ophthalmologists and researchers (MD, and/or Ph.D., or experienced ophthalmic nurse) holding a full or part time clinical / research position at a clinical or academic centre.
Up to six (6) awards may be offered for any one calendar year, with a total maximum of awards of up to €60,000.
At present, funding may be offered by ESCRS for a maximum of €10,000, per award, with the applicant to complete the research within [1 year].
At the completion of the SRA, the systematic Research manuscript must be submitted to an accredited journal, acceptable to the ESCRS, prior to the deadline [within the 1 year].
The lead applicant should be an ESCRS member.

For further information, please contact ESCRS at: escrs@escrs.org

ESCRS RESEARCH AWARDS APPLICATION FORM

Project Title *

Abbreviated Title *

in months

Project Duration *

(please indicate duration in months)

Projected Start Date *

Support Requested *

(please detail in €)

Chief Investigator

Full Name *

Institution *

Country *

E-mail *

Telephone *

(please include your country area code)

ESCRS Membership number *

Project Partner 1

Full Name

(if applicable)

Institution

(if applicable)

Country

(if applicable)

E-mail

(if applicable)

Telephone

(please include your country area code, if applicable)

Project Partner 2

Full Name

(if applicable)

Institution

(if applicable)

Country

(if applicable)

E-mail

(if applicable)

Telephone

(please include your country area code, if applicable)

Project Partner 3

Full Name

(if applicable)

Institution

(if applicable)

Country

(if applicable)

E-mail

(if applicable)

Telephone

(please include your country area code, if applicable)

Public summary

Please present your project here, using accessible language and without including any confidential information *

Please present your project here, using accessible language and without including any confidential information. This summary may be used by ESCRS for its communication activities, including publication on ESCRS website. Max 300 words

Background/Context

Please describe what problem your project will be addressing, what is already known and what will your project add *

Please describe what problem your project will be addressing, what is already known and what will your project add. max 300 words

Objectives

Please list, in order of importance, the main aims of your project *

Project Plan

Please describe the projected work packages, methodology, meaningful deliverables as well as the timeline for their execution, including a Gantt chart and risk identification and management *

Please upload any supporting project plan documents or Gantt charts

(if applicable)

Existing infrastructure

Explain why you and your project partners are well placed to deliver the work packages described, both regarding expertise in the field of the proposal as well as to any resources already available within applying parties *

(a list of relevant literature can be added as an annex to the application)

Resources required

Tabulate staff, consumables, equipment, programming and IT subcontracting, data storage, data analysis and additional costs in relation to work packages, including travel and legal/patenting costs. Against this, tabulate and subtract any existing support from project partners to derive a figure for the total ESCRS support requested *

Impact

How will your project add to existing open access data either in your field of interest or as a platform development? *

Describe at least one important clinical research question that appropriate analysis of the data collected will ultimately help to address. (or for CRA awards - what is already known? what will your project add?)

Additional Supporting Documentation

Please upload any additional information to support your application

(if applicable)

Consent

Please give consent for storing submitted data *

Yes, I give permission to store and process my data

Declaration

Text

You agree that by submitting this application to ESCRS, you declare and acknowledge the following:

I am authorised to submit the application on behalf of the applicant

The applicant is a legal entity capable of entering into a contract with ESCRS

The information in the application is true and correct

I hold a full-time or affiliated post with an established clinical or research institute named above, who have agreed to act as Sponsors for the research proposed and have the expertise required to support the administrative, insurance and regulatory requirements necessary for the conduct of this study

I can confirm that the work packages in this project are not already supported by existing funding

I understand that any ownership of any intellectual property arising from the project will be subject to agreement between the sponsoring institution and ESCRS prior to the commencement of funding, in accordance with the ESCRS Intellectual Property policy

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