President of India praises CF Award

9th October 2006. “I congratulate the Champalimaud Foundation for taking the initiative in this important noble societal mission of giving vision to all. I am sure this will encourage many groups of researchers to come out with path breaking solutions leading to the world without needless blindness.”

These were the closing words pronounced by the President of India, Doctor Abdul Kalam, on the 9th of October in Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace in Delhi. Doctor Kalam was hosting an unusual ceremony with the presence of the Champalimaud Foundation board and trustees. Leonor Beleza, President of the Foundation, spoke about the award, its importance and main purposes:
“We do not want this prize to be just another one. We want it to raise the profile of vision as an area of research, as well as one where enhanced efforts are in urgent need if we are to reach the ambitions of Vision 2020.”

The ceremony was attended by Indian scientists, leaders of NGOs and personalities engaged in promoting vision. Dr. Gullapalli N. Rao, a member of the jury and a distinguished scientist who leads the LVP Prasad Eye Institute, emphasized the extraordinary contribution of this initiative to those who work in science and in the fight against blindness.

Before the public ceremony, Gullapalli Rao, Leonor Beleza, João Silveira Botelho and Proença de Carvalho were granted a private audience with Doctor Kalam.

During her stay in India, the President of the Champalimaud Foundation was in Hyderabad, visiting the Prasad Institute, as well as its local units in the state of Andra Pradesh.

The Champalimaud Award will be given for the first time in 2007 to a contribution, primarily in developing countries, to the alleviation of visual problems.

The deadline for applications is on the 31st of December. The application form is available at the CF website.

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