WATERLOO, CANADA, and HYDERABAD, INDIA, April 26, 2024—L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) and the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) at the University of Waterloo have entered into a strategic partnership to advance vision science research and therapeutic development, as well as to enhance eye care delivery on a global scale.
Structured as a memorandum of understanding, the agreement leverages the respective strengths of the two world-leading eye care and research institutions, aiming to foster a dynamic exchange of knowledge, resources, and technology. Dr. Amit Mathur, strategic global partnerships and digital innovation advisor to LVPEI and a University of Waterloo alumnus, initiated the collaboration.
Key focus areas include:
- Joint research initiatives, encompassing collaborative research projects focused on cutting-edge solutions in vision science and eye health.
- Therapeutic development, expediting the creation of new interventions to address some of the most challenging eye conditions affecting people worldwide.
- Knowledge exchange and capacity building, facilitating cross-institutional sharing through joint seminars, workshops, and exchange programs for researchers and clinicians.
- Innovation in eye care, exploring novel approaches to delivery mechanisms while harnessing the latest technology and research to improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Prashant Garg, executive chair at LVPEI, said, “Our agreement with CORE represents a significant milestone in the quest to push the boundaries of vision science and eye care. By combining our strengths, we are setting the stage for breakthroughs that could transform the landscape of eye health globally.”
Professor Lyndon Jones, director of CORE, added, “LVPEI is renowned for its dedication to excellence in eye care and research. Together, we are committed to unlocking new possibilities in vision science and therapeutic development for the benefit of patients worldwide.”
The memorandum of understanding was signed by LVPEI and CORE in late April, and both organizations are now establishing the joint operating models for the partnership.
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About L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI)
Established in 1987, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Prevention of Blindness, is a comprehensive eye health facility. The institute has ten functional arms to its areas of operations: Clinical Services, Education, Research, Vision Rehabilitation, Rural and Community Eye Health, Eye Banking, Advocacy and Policy Planning, Capacity Building, Innovation, and Product Development. The LVPEI Eye Care Network has over 300 Centres in India, spread across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Karnataka. The institute’s mission is to provide equitable and quality eye care to all sections of society. The LVPEI’s five-tier ‘Eye Health Pyramid’ model, covering all areas of the community right from the villages to the city, provides high quality and comprehensive – prevention, curative, and rehabilitation – eye care to all. It has served over 36.89 million (3 crores 68 lakh people), with more than 50% entirely free of cost, irrespective of the complexity of care needed.
About the Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE)
The Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE) was established in 1988 at the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science. Over the next three decades, the organization evolved from a three-person operation into a thriving hub of basic and applied research, collaborating with sponsors, agencies and academia on advanced biosciences, clinical research and education. Its uncompromising independence and results of the highest quality have been at the heart of many of the most prominent advances in eye health. Today, its approximately 50-person team serves a range of ophthalmic sectors, including medical devices, ocular pharmaceuticals, digital technology and others, with a focus on the anterior segment. For more information, please visit core.uwaterloo.ca.
MEDIA CONTACT
Lyndon Jones, Director, CORE
+1.519.888.4065 or lwjones@uwaterloo.ca