Candidate eligibility

Award candidates may be leading laboratories, organisations, or projects resulting from collaborative efforts, dedicated to vision research (1); the preservation and restitution of vision or to the facilitation of access to such measures by underserved populations (2); fighting blindness in the field (3); and the development of new technologies to assist the visually impaired (4). Candidates can be from more than one discipline or institution.

The Award focus, and its eligible candidates alternate from odd to even years.

Participation process

The Award is presented once a year, alternating between major advances in research related to vision and/or the restoration of sight (in even years), and contributions to the fight against blindness and visual impairment, primarily in developing regions and/or innovations or new technologies that impact on the quality of life of the blind and visually impaired (in odd years). Productive laboratories/organisations, including collaborative efforts involving groups from more than one institution or domain, can be nominated or apply for the Award.

Award entry form

Entry forms are made available online every year. After being completed, they must be received by the Foundation by December 31st of the year preceding that of the Award. Adjoining material will be accepted during the first half of the month of January of the year of the Award, provided that candidates/nominators notify the Champalimaud Foundation of the submission.

Follow-up of submitted applications

After receiving the forms and entry material, the Champalimaud Foundation may contact the candidates and/or their nominators to request additional information. Entries will be active for 3 award cycles, and Candidates/Nominators may send an update sheet and/or update the form, bibliography and letters accordingly. Not having been contacted after the application/nomination does not mean that a candidate is not being considered by the jury.

The Award 

The €1,000,000 Award can be used in any way that contributes to the invaluable contributions of the laureate group/organisation without restrictions (except commercial purposes). This could be furthering basic, translational or clinical research, clinical practice or public health programmes.

The Award Laureates are announced every year in September directly on the Foundation’s website and social media. 

More information

If you have any questions or need additional information you can contact us at:
T (+1) 617 959 5277 (USA)
T (+351) 210 480 200 (Portugal, ext. 4225 or 4237)
Email: award@fchampalimaud.org