Inaugural Vannas Fellowship Celebrates a Visionary

Helsinki: In a moving ceremony in Helsinki, the inaugural Vannas Fellowship for research in international eye care excellence was awarded to Finnish scientist and Ophthalmologist, Jukka Moilanen.

The Vannas Fellowship celebrates the life and contribution of Professor Antti Vannas, one of the most inspiring and innovative Ophthalmologists in international interdisciplinary eye research.

The fellowship medal and $US20K prize was awarded by Scientia Professor, Brien Holden, of the Institute for Eye Research (IER) Sydney on behalf of fellow Trustees of the Vannas Foundation.

“Jukka is an outstanding young Ophthalmologist - an excellent surgeon and is already making great contributions in research and clinical work. He has worked in India on the Vision CRC project focusing on new ways of surgical correction of vision, much like Professor Vannas”, he said.

Antti Vannas, who comes from the famous dynasty of Scandinavian Ophthalmologists, became friends with Professor Holden when the two met in Nagoya, 30 years ago, and initiated major research collaboration on refractive surgery.

Vannas established a network of research collaborations in Finland, Australia, America and India where he played a key role in advancing corneal and refractive surgery, including the development of a corneal implant and the understanding of ocular inflammation.

According to Professor Holden, Vannas crossed boundaries, established research bridges and built relationships to serve outcomes - never losing sight of the millions who would one day benefit from his work.

“Antti’s work has been extraordinary - his contribution has been quite unique. There is no one who’s worked with him that has not enjoyed the experience. He has inspired an enormous number of people to continue towards better and permanent solutions to myopia and to make vision accessible throughout the world. Antti’s work with Vision CRC in Sydney and in India still leads the world in alternatives to refractive surgery research – he is a pioneer and it’s been honour for IER to collaborate over the years”, he added.

The poignant ceremony came at a time when Professor Vannas, who has recently been diagnosed with cancer, was convalescing in Helsinki.

“Antti loves life, loves to contribute, teach and chase knowledge. His legacy and talent is very evident in Jukka - so the medal ceremony was filled with all the incredible joy of his accomplishments so far and a lifetime of Antti’s achievements”, said Holden.

The Vannas Fellowship provides the opportunity for others to experience the value of scientific collaboration through international interdisciplinary research. Researchers, initially from Finland, Australia, India and America and later from other countries across the globe, will have the opportunity to experience the achievement of advancing eye health and vision care.

The Vannas Fellowship has attracted financial donations of over $600,000 from Antti’s friends around the world to the perpetual trust to be run by the Institute for Eye Research in the US and Australia and the Vannas Foundation in Finland, a testament to the zest for life and achievement’s of Professor Vannas.