The Ophthalmic Research Institute of Australia (ORIA) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting research into the nature and cause of eye disease and the prevention of blindness. 

The ORIA receives no funding from Government sources and yet, since 1984 alone, has contributed over $8million (Australian) to this type of research. 

The ORIA was founded in 1953 by a group of ophthalmologists concerned with the need to advance eye research in Australia. The Institute’s first major project was to assist in the founding of the first Chair of Ophthalmology in Australia, which was established in Melbourne, and has since played a major role in eye research. The ORIA is now the research arm of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists whilst maintaining its own independent corporate structure.

 

Grants awarded each year have enabled many ophthalmologists and those scientists in related fields, to enrich Australian medicine and surgery through their contribution to clinical practice, medical education and to medical research.

Grants are made to research workers in all fields of eye disease throughout Australia. These applications are considered by the ORIA's Research Advisory Committee which decides on the merit of the project and the individuals with original ideas so that institutions and workers are supported.  In 2010 the Research Advisory Committee  consists of 14 ophthalmologists and scientists from all states in Australia as well as New Zealand.  At any given time the Committee can co-opt an individual onto the Committee to add to its expertise.  The Committee represents experts in all fields of ophthalmology and vision science.   To further enhance the independence of the annual process and to ensure the very highest of advice, each application is forwarded to at least two outside referees for their opinions.   Furthermore, the ORIA's structure and processes enable its grant recipients to benefit by its scheme qualifying for membership of the Federal Government's Competitive Grants Register whereby institutions gain a further financial benefit.  The income that Higher Education Providers receive from schemes listed on the ACGR drives the allocation of over $200 million of Research Infrastructure Block Grants (RIBG) annually.  Acceptance of the ORIA to the Register is conditional on conforming to strict guidelines. 

Quite recently funds have also been distributed on behalf of the ORIA's fundraising arm, the Eye Foundation, as well as other vision related organisations such as Glaucoma Australia Inc. and Vision Australia.  It is in this way, that an organization can use the ORIA  to assist with their own research funding by providing independence and acknowledged expertise of the highest order.

In 1993 it held the first Australasian Ophthalmic and Visual Science meeting. This is a meeting for clinical and laboratory based researchers to present and discuss their work. It is the only such meeting of its type in Australia and has modelled itself on the very successful ARVO meeting in the United States.

ORIA founded the Gift of Sight in 1994 to promote public awareness of eye disease and to raise funds for eye research in Australia. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO) Eye Foundation was established in 2002 with a mission to raise and invest funds for research programs. The RANZCO Eye Foundation continues the awareness raising work of the Gift of Sight Society, which has been amalgamated with the Foundation.

The ORIA is managed by a 16 member Board of Directors and Executive Officer, Anne Dunn Snape.

Please contact us should you wish to find out more information regarding our work and how you could assist.