Research Capacity Strengthening Impact

Research is needed to provide the evidence on how to most effectively deliver eye care services.

Research in eye health has historically been concentrated in high-income countries, and there is often a lack of locally-relevant research from the regions where there is greatest need.

ICEH works to strengthen global eye health research capacity, and has made several considerable contributions in the area:

• Since 2010, 28 research degree students have been trained at and completed their PhDs at ICEH

• We estimate that around 80% of people holding PhDs in ophthalmology / eye health from the African region have been trained by ICEH

• More than 780 professionals from 101 countries have taken our Master’s course in Public Health for Eye Care, which equips students with the skills to research, plan and assess eye health services. Many alumni have gone on to leadership positions in global eye health, carry out research and improve their services

• We run large networks of connected eye health professionals that share the skills and knowledge to improve practice, and collaborate on large-scale research

• We collaborate on multiple research capacity strengthening partnerships, for instance a current project we are working on with colleagues in Nepal