About Us
Vision Research Foundation is a charitable trust established by the generous contribution of a philanthropist in NZ. Our research focus is to preserve sight by supporting bold scientific initiatives that will challenge, disrupt and forge new insights into the eye and its connection to the brain.
Our People
Professor Helen Danesh-Meyer
- MBChB, MD, PhD, FRANZCO, CNZM
International Scientific Advisory Board
Our Scientific Advisory Board plays an important role in finding strategic directions for our research and is highly valuable in the process of shaping our portfolio of research programmes.
“Vision and health are precious. Our eyes connect us to the world. They are also a window to easily access powerful insights into the health of our brain and our entire body. We will all be directly impacted by vision related disorders or the threat of blindness at some stage of our lives. And we will all be challenged by neurological and degenerative conditions as we age. Our journey through these challenges is being much improved by transformative medical discoveries that directly influence the course of our well-being.
At Vision Research Foundation, we are committed to undertake impactful science that will help to transform lives. We undertake research that has a positive impact across our diverse communities and realise those impacts through education, engagement and practice."
Our Challenge
Our philosophy is that by challenging established paradigms we can make transformative discoveries in vision science. We are establishing a collaborative, multi-disciplinary network of researchers who are committed to translational and impactful research. The emphasis is on building a strong and dynamic vision research environment focusing on supporting bright minds to stay in NZ. NZ researchers are significantly underfunded compared to other similar OECD countries such as Australia, UK, Canada, and the US, with less than 8% of all research grants being funded. Vision Research Foundation provides a streamlined, scientifically robust research platform for vision scientists working collaboratively.
Research Pathways
Bench to Bedside
Vertical integration of research - taking innovations from the laboratory to the clinic.
Building Capacity
Development of the next generation of researchers with an emphasis on giving effect to Vision Mātauranga.
Basic Science Research
Explore the underlying mechanisms of the optic nerve retinal ganglion cells and how they respond to injury
Cutting-edge Technology
Integrating leading innovations and technological advances into research which can be translated into improving patient care.
Clinical Transformation
Discovering treatments that make a difference in the lives of patients
Our Values
Building Foundations
Development of NZ scientists to strengthen the foundation of NZ Vision Research.
Discovery
Stimulate innovative novel, high-risk, high-impact research that challenges and disrupts presently held assumptions.
Transformative Research
Discover new insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of diseases to prevent blindness.
Equity
Grow skills and capacity for Māori and Pacific people to participate in cutting-edge vision science.
Creative Collaborations
Establish and foster enduring multi-disciplinary collaborations both nationally and internationally in vision science.
