Awards for the Medical University of Graz at the 66th Annual Conference of the Austrian Ophthalmological Society

In mid-May, the 66th Annual Meeting of the Austrian Ophthalmological Society took place in the Styrian winter sports resort of Schladming. During the conference, numerous prizes were awarded for outstanding scientific work in the field of ophthalmology. With a total of four awards, the Medical University of Graz was one of the big winners at the event. 

Adele Rabensteiner Prize for Mathias Mairitsch

In his research project, Mathias Mairitsch is investigating the link between a drug used to treat ovarian cancer and the associated side effects affecting the eye. The prize money will be used to purchase new analysis kits. Understanding the underlying mechanism could lead to improved therapeutic management and thus enhance the quality of life for those affected. The research project forms part of Mathias Mairitsch’s doctoral thesis. 

Sponsorship award from the magazine “Spektrum der Augenheilkunde” for Lukas Höflechner

Lukas Höflechner and his team received the sponsorship award for the research project “Preserflo MicroShunt versus trabeculectomy in patients with uncontrolled glaucoma”. This study compared two surgical methods for the treatment of glaucoma. Both procedures effectively reduced intraocular pressure. Trabeculectomy, as the “gold standard therapy”, more frequently led to excessively low intraocular pressure after surgery, whilst the Preserflo MicroShunt more frequently required follow-up treatment. Overall, both methods showed similar results, meaning that the choice of treatment should be made on an individual basis.

Roche Research Award for Elena Moser

The Tumour Centre at the Department of Ophthalmology of the Medical University of Graz has for years played a pioneering role, both in Austria and internationally, in the sampling of choroidal lesions. A retrospective analysis has now investigated how safe and informative transvitreal biopsies are and what impact the biopsy has on vision. Elena Moser was awarded the Roche Research Prize, worth €2,000, for the analysis and presentation of the results. The study highlights the important role of transvitreal (= through the vitreous humour of the eye) biopsies in modern tumour diagnostics in ophthalmology. By combining high diagnostic value with a favourable safety profile, it makes a significant contribution to the personalised care of patients with eye tumours.

Örtli Research Prize for Monja Michelitsch

The Örtli Research Prize was awarded to Monja Michelitsch and her team for the FAN study. A prospective, single-centre drug trial investigated whether the treatment frequency for patients with wet age-related macular degeneration could be reduced following a switch from aflibercept to faricimab.  The study showed that, in more than a third of eyes, the interval between injections could be extended by at least two weeks. Faricimab can therefore help to extend treatment intervals and reduce the number of injections required, thereby alleviating the burden on patients and reducing their treatment risks.

We would like to congratulate all the award winners!

Photos: Courtesy of the ÖOG—Photo credits: H. Steiner