Systematic Research Award

The European Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgeons announce that applications are now being accepted for the 2024 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.

For this year’s SRA call, the ESCRS Research Committee has identified three topic areas on which it requests applications:

1. Intermediate AMD & cataract surgery
2. Refractive outcomes after cataract surgery
3. Stability of refraction after cataract surgery (focusing on length of follow-up in the published literature)

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 (or other databases?).

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

“These topics were identified as being highly relevant and in need to well-constructed, systematic analyses at the Think Tank session hosted by the ESCRS Research Committee at the Winter meeting in Frankfurt,” said Joaquin Fernandez, MD, MsC, PhD, chair of the committee.

Research process

As part of the opening of the first research award call for 2024, the ESCRS is also unveiling its new process for reviewing applications submitted for its research awards: The society has adopted a masked review process for submissions with specialist reviewers. Under this new process, all applications will be masked before they are sent to the reviewers for judging and scoring. The applications will then be ranked by ESCRS staff, with the top masked submissions sent to the Clinical Research Committee for a final decision. In addition, all research award calls are open calls.

The 2024 SRA preliminary applications will be accepted until 31 May 2024, with the shortlisted submissions notified in mid-June and final submissions due by 15 July 2024. Award recipients will be notified by end of August.

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 Research Call for the SRA shall be announced in January.
• The SRA shall be open to all ophthalmologists and researcher (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.