The Managing Director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Prof Hugh Taylor AC, has been awarded the 2006 Mectizan Award, in recognition of his contributions and sustained dedication to the fight against onchocerciasis.
Prof Taylor is the first Australian recipient of the Award, announced at the Mectizan Expert Committee / Albendazole Coordination meeting in Atlanta, Georgia. The award was announced by the Mectizan Expert Committee on behalf of the Merck Mectizan Donation Program.
Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is the world's second leading infectious cause of blindness. It is estimated about 18 million people are effected, mostly in Africa and south-America.
"I am grateful for this award in recognition of my contribution together with medical research partners in the field, in the past 30 years," Prof Taylor said.
The Centre for Eye Research Australia works toward the elimination of preventable vision loss and blindness – researching the causes, treatment and prevention of eye diseases.
The Mectizan Donation Program was established in 1988 to provide medical, technical and administrative oversight of the donation of Mectizan by Merck & Co., Inc. for the treatment of onchocerciasis.