Newswise — The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) today announced the launch of a new career development program aimed to provide early-career underrepresented minority (URM) scientists the opportunity to explore novel and innovative ideas. Generously funded by Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, the Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists will support early-career URM investigators working in the U.S. with a two-year grant totaling $100,000 to promote the generation of promising preliminary research results.

“Genentech continues to offer outstanding support to eye and vision scientists,” said ARVO Foundation Board of Governors Chair Paul Sternberg, Jr., MD, FARVO. “We are pleased to offer this new award with an intent to build a stronger pipeline of future leaders who include individuals who have been historically underrepresented in the field of vision research.”

The award is open to individuals working or practicing in the United States who are within the first four years of a primary academic appointment, have a strong record of scholarly productivity and who identify as an underrepresented minority (defined as African Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Hispanics or Latinos, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders).

In addition to funding support, the award will also include the support of an ARVO mentor from outside the recipient’s home institution. Recipients will be paired with a senior member of the eye and vision research community who can provide additional support related to career advancement.

Applications for the award will be open from July 1 to Sept. 1, 2020. Recipients will be notified in November 2020.

For more information about the Genentech Career Development Award for Underrepresented Minority Emerging Vision Scientists, visit ARVO’s website.

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About ARVO: The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) is the largest eye and vision research organization in the world. Members include nearly 12,000 eye and vision researchers from over 75 countries. ARVO advances research worldwide into understanding the visual system and preventing, treating and curing its disorders. Learn more at ARVO.org.

About the ARVO Foundation: Established in 2001, the ARVO Foundation for Eye Research raises funds through partnerships, grants and sponsorships to support ARVO’s world-class education and career development resources for eye and vision researchers of all stages of career and education. Learn more at ARVOFoundation.org.

About Genentech: Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit https://www.gene.com.