The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences is thrilled to announce that Christine A. Curcio, Ph.D., and Cynthia Owsley, Ph.D., have been jointly awarded the prestigious Proctor Medal for 2025 by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). This esteemed recognition was announced at the annual meeting held this week in Seattle, Washington.

Established in 1949 as a memorial to Dr. Francis I. Proctor, the Proctor Medal honors outstanding research in the basic or clinical sciences as applied to ophthalmology. It is the first ophthalmology-related award to honor non-clinicians in the field. As part of this honor, Curcio and Owsley will present the Proctor Award Lecture at the 2025 ARVO Annual Meeting.

Curcio and Owsley have collaborated for over 25 years, focusing on understanding associations between retinal structure and visual function in the transition from aging to intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Their groundbreaking research addresses a critical yet often overlooked trajectory of AMD, which is vital for understanding the prevention of vision loss in this condition. Their work has led to translational discoveries that open additional pathways for investigation and potential discovery of new treatment options for AMD.

The 2025 award marks the first time the Proctor Medal has been awarded jointly to two women. The nomination package assembled by Department Chair Brian Samuels, M.D., Ph.D., and Alecia Gross, Ph.D., included letters from three prominent clinician and scientist ARVO members. The award recognizes remarkable accomplishments in AMD research, particularly for their collaboration on the ALSTAR and ALSTAR2 studies (ALabama STudy on early Age-Related macular degeneration).

“With improved vision and imaging outcome measures, new treatments for this global cause of vision loss can be moved forward,” says Dr. Owsley.

“2023 was a big year for two FDA approvals for treating end-stage AMD. We are pushing for prevention,” says Dr. Curcio.

This honor is well-deserved for their exceptional contributions to AMD research. Curcio and Owsley exemplify the spirit of innovation and dedication that drives our department forward. We look forward to their continued success and the impact of their work on the future of ophthalmology.