In 2022, the not-for-profit Robert Machemer Foundation and the International Retinal Research Foundation (IRRF) partnered to create the Robert Machemer, MD/IRRF Fellowship. At the time of the collaboration, the IRRF agreed to provide $100,000 to The Robert Machemer, MD Foundation to co-fund this Fellowship. The overall goal was to support the transition of a vitreoretinal surgical Fellow to pursue independent research to improve knowledge of the causes and treatment of vitreoretinal diseases.
At the end of the two-year commitment, the IRRF Board of Directors decided to continue this as an annual IRRF Award. The Robert Machemer Foundation Board has separately approved the handover of the Fellowship from the not-for-profit to the International Retinal Research Foundation.
Dr. Machemer is considered one of the pioneers of retinal surgery, and it is deemed appropriate that the IRRF honor him in this way. The Award will be available for an individual upon completion of their vitreoretinal training to support research in that field. The individual will be chosen by the IRRF Director and Co-Director of Research Funding to be approved by the full Board of the IRRF.
To view the Robert Machemer, MD/IRRF Fellowship Award Guidelines, go HERE
To download the Robert Machemer, MD/IRRF Fellowship Award Application, go HERE