The Bressler Prize in Vision Science, established in 2001 and first presented in 2003, is awarded to a person whose research has resulted in translation of medical or scientific knowledge into significant advancements in the treatment or rehabilitation of people with vision loss. Their efforts will have directly contributed to the mission of Lighthouse Guild to inspire people who are visually impaired to attain their goals.
Thomas C. Lee, MD, is the recipient of the 2024 Bressler Prize for his extraordinary work advancing the understanding of pediatric retinal disease and childhood blindness. Dr. Lee is Director of the Vision Center, Chief of the Division of Ophthalmology, at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology at the USC Keck School of Medicine. He leads a team of physicians and basic scientists who are developing new treatments for conditions such as retinoblastoma and retinopathy of prematurity. In addition to developing a robust research program, Dr. Lee has helped create an innovative education platform to teach doctors in other countries remotely via the Internet. In 2010, he established a program in conjunction with the Armenian Eye Care Project, which deployed digital retinal cameras to the capital city of Yerevan allowing US based physicians to supervise Armenian doctors treating babies with retinopathy of prematurity. More recently he helped establish a neonatal nursing education program to assist the nurses who care for these children. It is his long-term goal to create an open online education platform that can be used to teach doctors and healthcare workers in other countries where resources are limited.
We are currently accepting nominations for the 2025 Bressler Prize and Pisart Award. The deadline for submission for the 2025 awards program is March 1, 2025.
About the Prize
- The Bressler Prize includes an unrestricted cash award of $25,000.
- Open to established vision clinicians or scientists whose leadership and research has led to substantive advancements in the translation of understanding of vision loss to the treatment of eye disease or the rehabilitation of people with vision loss. Nominees should be clinically and/or scientifically accomplished and their accomplishments must exhibit immediate clinical relevance.
- Open to candidates from the United States and all countries.
Nomination Process
- A letter of nomination must be submitted with a nomination application for each individual candidate.
- The letter of nomination must establish the individual’s contributions to translating knowledge about vision loss into treatment of eye disease or rehabilitation of people with vision loss.
- The letter of nomination must be submitted on the letterhead of the organization or academic institution of the nominator and include his/her full name and title.
- An up-to-date curriculum vitae for the nominee must be included with the application.
- Colleagues or professionals may make nominations.
- More than one individual may be nominated from any academic institution or organization.
- Nomination applications must be submitted online.
Timeline
- March 1, 2025: Closing date for nominations and receipt of all supporting documents for the 2024 Bressler Prize.
- Spring 2025: Bressler recipient announced.
Questions? Call us. Ms. Fernanda Garcia-Piña, Director of Research Operations at 212-769-7833.
Apply for the Bressler Prize
Past Bressler Prize Recipients
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Lighthouse Guild is dedicated to providing exceptional services that inspire people who are visually impaired to attain their goals.
