OPT Visionary - Fall 2016

28 • NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY Faculty Focus Envision awarded a $10,000 research prize to a multidisciplinary team led by Ava K. Bittner, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO (Dipl.), associate professor, to fund a one-year investigation into the preliminary efficacy of telerehabilita- tion. This will be accomplished by using HIPAA-secure videoconfer- encing to deliver follow-up low vision services to visually impaired individuals who live in remote areas or otherwise have difficulty getting to a specialist’s office. The research proposal, “Feasibility of Telerehabilitation for Low Vision,” was the result of a research applica- tion development seminar held during the 2015 Envision Confer- ence in Denver, Colorado. The project was selected from multiple entries submitted for Envision’s inaugural Research Proposal Competition—an initiative spon- sored by the Envision Research Institute (ERI) in Wichita, Kansas. “We believe the future of low vision research lies in the power of collaboration, and we are delighted to be funding this team,” said Laura Walker, Ph.D., who serves as ERI’s executive director. “The research itself is incredibly important for advancing rehabilitative vision care. The most exciting part, however, is how this team has organized to carry it out so effectively.” “I am absolutely thrilled to receive this award,” Bittner said. “I have wanted to do a study like this for some time, but needed some pilot funds to get under way. I am really excited to work with the research team and to meet others in the area of low vision rehabilitation who have a mutual interest. It is truly wonder- ful that Envision is supporting low vision research in this way.” The ERI solicited proposals for projects involving low vision clinical practitioners, educators, and researchers from varying back- grounds to highlight the multidisci- plinary nature of the Envision Conference. Applications were evaluated based on innovation, feasibility, team strength, and diversity and impact. “The Envision Conference provides a unique opportunity for specialists with different degrees and areas of interest to exchange information, further their education, and approach vision issues from new perspectives,” said Michael Epp, manager of professional education at Envision. “To underscore this mission, we introduced an intensive course on how to develop and successfully submit a research project proposal. We encouraged participants to create multidisci- plinary teams to execute their proposed projects, and it was truly inspiring to see how eagerly they embraced that objective.” Low Vision Research Team Wins Envision Competition