The award was made ‘in honour of outstanding service to the eye and vision community’, recognising Professor Paraoan’s extensive research on eyes, looking in particular at the molecular biology of retina, major eye diseases and vision decline with ageing.
ARVO is the premier professional research organisation in eye and vision science, with around 10,000 members from more than 75 countries.
Professor Paraoan said: “To be recognised by such a broad and prestigious association is a real honour. For over 25 years, my group has researched the functioning of essential cells for vision and effects of ageing and disease on our eyes with the aim of reducing the all-too-common problem of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the commonest cause of blindness in the western world.”
Professor Paraoan has a longstanding commitment and service to ARVO and has been involved in the association’s governance and numerous initiatives, most recently serving on the Annual Meeting Program Committee and chairing the Biochemistry/Molecular Biology (BI) section, sitting on the Publication Committee and being a founding member of the organisation’s mentoring program with activities involving Early Career researchers from all over the world and developing countries eye and vision professionals.
Professor Paraoan is an internationally-respected scientist with significant leadership experience in educational, charitable and health organisations. She is the current Vice-President (Europe) of the International Society for Eye Research. She joined Edge Hill University in March and has already created a research group on Ocular Molecular Biology and Mechanisms of Disease, bringing together expertise on this challenging topic and giving them access to Edge Hill’s cutting-edge facilities.
A biochemist by training, Professor Paraoan focused her research on eye and vision science early on in her career and previously founded and led the Ocular Molecular Biology and Mechanisms of Disease Group at the University of Liverpool.
Find out more about Professor Paraoan’s research on the Edge Hill website research.edgehill.ac.uk/luminita-paraoan.
February 2, 2023
