Four sciences prizes for five Cologne eye researchers

At the awards sessions of DOG 2016 in Berlin (29.09-2.10.2016), four different science prizes were awarded to research ophthalmologists from the Department of Ophthalmology in the Medical Faculty of the University of Cologne. DOG 2016 is the annual conference of the German Ophthalmological Society. All five prize-winning research ophthalmologists are connected to the DFG research unit FOR 2240 “Angiogenesis, Lymphangiogenesis and Cellular Immunity in Inflammatory Diseases of the Eye”, situated in the Department of Ophthalmology in Cologne.
Dr. med. Simona L. Schlereth (pictured left above) won the Science Prize (“Wissenschaftspreis”) of the Eye Foundation (“Stiftung Auge”). This prize recognizes outstanding original publications in ophthalmology. The prize is endowed with 2500 Euros.  In the framework of a Gerok rotation position awarded by merit, Dr. Schlereth is affiliated with Project 4 “Tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis and its inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy in conjunctival melanomas” of the FOR 2240.
Dr. med. Friederike Schaub (pictured second from left above) won the Julius Springer Prize for Ophthalmology, which is sponsored by Springer Medical Publications. This prize recognizes the best original work that appeared in the professional journal The Ophthalmologist (“Der Ophthalmologe”), and is endowed with 2500 Euros. The international relevance of Dr. Schaub’s contribution was also recognized by the prize committee. Dr. Schaub has connections to Project 1 “Induction of corneal transplant tolerance by anti(lymph)angiogenic therapy” of the FOR 2240.
Private Docent Dr. Philipp Steven (pictured third from left above) won the Clinical Applications part of the two-part Science Prize for Dry Eye and Blepharitis/Meibom-Gland-Dysfunction (MGD). This prize is sponsored by the Optima Pharmaceutical Company (GmbH), Moosburg. It recognizes outstanding work on dry eye disease and blepharitis/MGD, and considers the relevance of the work both in clinical and basic science areas. Each part of the prize is endowed with 3000 Euros. PD Dr. Philipp Steven is the Head of the Ocular Surface Group and Clinical Studies at the Eye Hospital of the University Hospital of Cologne, as well as the Principle Investigator of Central Project 1 “Cologne Experimental Eye Imaging Center” of FOR 2240.
Among the winners of the Dry Eye Research Prize (“Sicca Förderpreis”) were Anne Bukoweicki, M.Sc. (pictured second from right above) and Nasrin Refaian, M.Sc. (pictured right above). The Professional Association of German Ophthalmologists (Berufsverband der Augenärzte Deutschlands, BVA) organizes this prize from their Department of Dry Eye and Eye Surface Disease. The prize is sponsored by the company Bausch + Lomb / Dr. Mann Pharma, Berlin, and recognizes research on dry eye disease. Ms. Bukowiecki is a PhD student funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) in Project 5 “Myeloid cell function in corneal hem- and lymphangiogenesis” of the FOR 2240. Her prize was for her work on the topic of “The role of macrophages in inflammatory corneal disease”. Ms. Refaian is a PhD student funded by the DFG in Project 4 “Tumor-associated lymphangiogenesis and its inhibition as a novel therapeutic strategy in conjunctival melanomas” of the FOR 2240. Her prize was for her work on the topic of “Anti-angiogenic and anti-lymphangiogenic therapies for Pterygium relapse prevention”.