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New Partnership to Present Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research

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“The Nobel Prize of Vision”

The Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education and BrightFocus Foundation today announced that they will jointly present the prestigious Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research.

Established in 1994 by the Helen Keller Foundation, the Prize honors outstanding vision researchers from a community of 20,000 scientists and clinicians worldwide who labor to save the precious gift of sight for current and future generations. The Prize is named in honor of the American woman who impressed the world with her courage and determination to overcome blindness and deafness.

A distinguished international panel of biomedical scientists and research physicians annually selects one or more esteemed Helen Keller Laureates. In a ceremony held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Laureates receive the Prize - sometimes referred to as the “Nobel Prize of vision” - from Helen Keller’s great-grand-niece, Keller Johnson-Thompson.

“Helen taught us that ‘Alone we can do so little. Together we can do so much.’ We believe BrightFocus Foundation is an ideal partner for this important award that has unique potential to increase public appreciation for vision research," said Robert Morris, MD, President and Co-Founder of the Helen Keller Foundation.

“Through our support of the Helen Keller Prize, as well as our funding of innovative research in eye and brain health, BrightFocus is proud to foster and honor ground-breaking scientific discovery,” said BrightFocus President and CEO Stacy Haller.

This year’s recipients of the 2015 Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research will be announced in Denver on May 5.

For over four decades, BrightFocus Foundation has been working to save mind and sight by supporting research and education on diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, and Alzheimer’s. The nonprofit has funded $27 million in research in the last three years alone, and recently launched a national public service campaign, “Make a Plan Today; Get Your Eyes Checked,” to promote better eye health.

The Helen Keller Foundation for Research and Education was founded in 1988 by Helen Keller’s family and a group of committed scientists, with a mission of continuing her victories over blindness and deafness through research and education. The Foundation has focused on the vision research topics of eye injury, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, macular disease, and strokes of the eye.

BrightFocus Foundation is a nonprofit organization supporting research and public education to help eradicate brain and eye diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration and glaucoma. For more information, call 1-800-437-2423.