Essilor Australia has increased its contribution to the Dr. David Wilson Memorial Scholarship, a collaborative initiative between Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI), Essilor Australia and the University of New South Wales (UNSW).
The scholarship is designed as a philanthropic response to advance research in optometry mutually supported by the School of Optometry, and Vision Science (SOVS) at UNSW.
Earlier this year, Essilor Australia, BHVI and UNSW awarded the Dr. David Wilson Memorial Scholarship to Nicole Xiao Liu to support her research studies in Australia, China, India, and Vietnam. The full scholarship contribution, now totalling AU$27,000, will allow her to investigate whether environmental factors and/or circadian rhythms influence the onset and progression of myopia. It will also ensure she is fully supported throughout the program with additional living expenses.
Xiao Liu is the first recipient of the renamed Dr. David Wilson Memorial Scholarship, which was originally created in order to advance research into optometry. Research into myopia is a vital component of this, given it is the most common refractive error of the eye and has become one of the fastest growing eye conditions in recent years. Dr. David Wilson was the first recipient of the original scholarship first established in 2001.
Professor Fiona Stapleton, Head of the School of Optometry and Vision Science said, “I congratulate Essilor and BHVI for this magnificent initiative in David’s name. I also thank Tim Thurn and all at Essilor for their additional financial contribution to provide a full living allowance scholarship to allow Nicole, as the first recipient of the Dr. David A Wilson Memorial Scholarship, to fully focus on her studies in this important field of eye-care.”
