Towards innovative solutions to treat blindness

A four-day workshop to discuss innovative scientific solutions for treating damaged corneas began in the city on Thursday. The workshop is jointly organised by the University of Sheffield, UK and L V Prasad Eye Institute.

The workshop on “Application of innovative chemistry and biomaterials to treat corneas damaged by trauma, disease and infection” is part of the Newton-Bhabha Researcher Links programme, aimed at bringing together UK researchers with their counterparts in India, to exchange ideas and solve global problems.

For the second year in a row, the Royal Society of Chemistry, in association with the British Council through Newton Fund, are investing Rs 2.5 crores, to deliver nine Newton Researcher Links workshops, to provide Indian and UK researchers with the opportunity to learn from each other and build long-lasting, sustainable research collaborations.

Stephen Hawthorne, Deputy Chief Executive, Royal Society of Chemistry, explained, “The delegates are mostly early career scientists with expertise in either chemistry or biomaterials, from both India and the UK. Through the workshop, we hope to establish new collaborations between the UK and India, and nurture a new generation of young scientists able to respond to this urgent clinical need.”

Mei-kwei Barker, Director, British Council South India said, “The British Council’s global reach and commitment to building strong international relationships enables us to better support Science. Through the Newton Bhabha Fund we will use the UK’s strengths in research and innovation to support greater scientific research capacity in India and build research partnerships between British and India research institutions.”