New ground was broken in Singapore when the Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI) hosted the first combined meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and an overseas institution. ARVO meetings, based in the USA, constitute the leading forum for ophthalmic research in the world. The SERI-ARVO meeting was the first such meeting to be held outside the USA.

The meeting was based in the excellent facilities of the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Centre received many accolades from those attending. Over eight hundred delegates from thirty six countries were treated to a wealth of research reports and invited lectures on cutting edge advances in eye research complemented by a series of workshops on the design and conduct of eye research.

The Guest of Honour who gave the Opening Address was Dr Tony Tan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Singapore. A welcome address was also given by Professor Robert Weinreb, President of ARVO and a Singapore Alumni Association Distinguished Visitor. Professor Arthur Lim Chairman of SERI and Professor Donald Tan, Director also welcomed delegates to the meeting at the opening ceremony. Professor Sheila West of the USA was the NUS Hong Leong Professorial Visitor.

The topics covered in the meeting ranged over the whole gamut of ophthalmic research with an emphasis on translational research bridging the disciplines of basic science and clinical ophthalmology. A galaxy of invited speakers from around the world addressed the meeting on topics as diverse as recent advances in Ocular Inflammation, Glaucoma, Myopia, Cornea and Refractive Surgery, Retinal Disorders, Epidemiology, Stem Cell Research and Genetics. In all of the symposia on these topics the growing importance of cell and molecular biology, molecular genetics including genomics and proteomics and stem cell technology was abundantly clear. The sensational recent advances in our knowledge of the human genome, some fifty years after the identification of the structure of the DNA molecule, have led to a wave of new technologies that are being actively exploited in eye research. The exciting possibilities of replacing irreversibly damaged ocular tissues by the use of stem cells or the application of gene therapy for presently untreatable retinal disorders were among the many highlights of the meeting.

In all there were 140 presentations in keynote addresses, symposia, invited lectures and workshops. A total of 290 posters complemented 63 free paper presentations. Sponsored lunch-time symposia addressed the controversy of nutritional supplements in ophthalmology and newer medical therapies for glaucoma. Poster presenters had an opportunity to have their posters discussed in rapid fire sessions where brief illustrated presentations of posters led to lively discussion and sometimes critical comment.

The social side of the meeting was not neglected, with a Welcome Reception in the Singapore National Eye Centre that gave delegates an opportunity to visit SERI's research laboratories and clinical facilities. A Lunar New Year Dinner at Chimes was a memorable experience

An important goal of the meeting was to encourage young investigators to attend and present their work and to this end SERI offered a number of Travel Fellowship Grants that supported the travel costs of 28 young researchers from nine different countries.

These awards were only made possible by the generosity of our Travel Grant sponsors (Alcon, Bausch & Lomb, SERI-Santen Japan, and the Tear Film and Ocular Surface Society).

Awards to young investigators for excellence in research as demonstrated in presentations or posters were made to six young researchers in the categories of Basic Research in Visual Science and in Clinical Ophthalmology.

The major award in the Visual Science category for an outstanding presentation went to Ken Fukuda of Japan for his work on the Effects of IL-4 on the Metabolism of Extracellular Matrix Proteins by Human Conjunctival Fibroblasts.

In the Clinical category the top award was shared by Adrienne Csutak of Hungary for her study of Plasminogen Activator Inhibitors in Tears after Excimer Laser Photorefractive Keratectomy and Chua Wei Han of Singapore for his study of Refractive Errors and their Correction in Singapore School Children.

An exhibition of the latest in ophthalmic instrumentation and technology with participation by twenty one companies attracted a lot of interest.

The meeting was organised by a Committee comprising members of the research and administrative staff of SERI aided by an International Advisory Committee. The Organising Committee acknowledges with gratitude the many companies and institutions that generously supported the meeting and whose sponsorship has been recorded in the Programme and Abstract Book that will serve as a lasting record of the meeting.

The Organising Committee has received a large number of congratulatory letters and e-mails from many of those attending. The meeting has been judged a great success and it is hoped that this will prove to be the first of many such conjoined meetings with ARVO. Given the opportunity SERI would be happy to host another such meeting in Singapore at some time in the future.

Professor Wallace S Foulds, CBE
Senior Consultant
SERI