ARVO Foundation and Pfizer Ophthalmics honor Carl B. Camras with translational research award

Rockville, MD – The ARVO Foundation for Eye Research (AFER) and Pfizer Ophthalmics are pleased to announce a series of awards named in honor of Carl B. Camras, MD. Up to three awards of $10,000 each will be presented annually for a period of 10 years to early career researchers.

The AFER/Pfizer Ophthalmics/Carl Camras Translational Research Awards celebrate the life and achievements of Dr. Camras, who passed away earlier this year. Dr Camras was a glaucoma specialist and research scientist who was most widely recognized for developing prostaglandin analogues for the treatment of elevated IOP in patients with glaucoma. During his distinguished career, he took a personal interest in developing the next generation of eye and vision researchers.

"Like Carl Camras, Pfizer Ophthalmics is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of patients by collaborating with stakeholders to advance the science and care in the field of eye disorders," said Robert Besthof, Global Commercial Leader for Pfizer Ophthalmics.

Award recipients will be selected based on their excellence in research and their fundamental scientific discoveries, concepts and novel technologies that have led to or have the promise of leading to the prevention, treatment and diagnosis of eye disease.

Pfizer Ophthalmics is supporting the awards through a donation to AFER. Up to the three annual awards will be presented for the next 10 years at the ARVO Annual Meeting beginning in May 2010.

"AFER is proud to have the opportunity to honor early career researchers for their achievements through the AFER/Pfizer Ophthalmics Translational Research Awards," added Gary Abrams, MD, Chairman of AFER's Board of Governors. "We are grateful for Pfizer Ophthalmics' support and commitment to life-changing ophthalmic research."