Awards, Prizes and Distinctions
AAO Jackson Memorial Lecture 2022
Gerrit Melles presented the 79th Jackson Memorial Lecture at the opening of this year’s AAO meeting in Chicago by reflecting on “How would nature see our corneal triumphs?”
Champalimaud Vision Award 2022
Gerrit Melles was given the prestigious António Champalimaud Vision Award 2022 in a ceremony in Lisbon today. He shares the award, and the prize money of 1 million euros, with Harvard researcher Professor Claes Dohlman. Gerrit Melles wins the award for his pioneering innovations in the field of corneal transplants, including ‘endothelial keratoplasty’, which provide better and faster visual recovery and have a lower complication risk compared to conventional techniques.
Expertise list corneal endothelium
NIIOS is listed in 2022 as a top-ranking expertise center for the corneal endothelium. At NIIOS we are dedicated to learn more about endothelial cells every day and to share this knowledge with the cornea community so that we can improve treatment options and patients’ vision. We are very proud of our unique team that makes this possible!
Power list Ophthalmology 2022
The NIIOS team is very proud that Gerrit Melles was again selected to be part of the 2022 Power List. This annual list is provided by ‘The Ophthalmologist’ to acknowledge the achievements of the most influential figures in ophthalmology.
NIIOS and MHR listed as expertise center for corneal transplantation
In a recently announced ranking based on more than 5000 articles published since 2010, NIIOS/MHR was the only Dutch institute among the Top 10 expertise institutions for corneal transplantation. A great acknowledgement of the ground-breaking work of Dr. Gerrit Melles and the entire NIIOS/AER/MHR team.
Dr. Melles receives Sir Harold Ridley Distinguished Visiting Professorship
On October 9, 2020 during the Vision 2020 Online Congress at Hamilton Eye Institute in Memphis, Tennessee (USA) Dr. Gerrit Melles was honoured with the Sir Harold Ridley Distinguished Visiting Professorship and gave a keratoplasty lecture with an update on DMEK and Bowman layer transplantation.
Dr. Melles receives the 2020 Bressler Prize in Vision Science
The Lighthouse Guild has announced Dr. Gerrit Melles as the recipient of the 2020 Bressler Prize in Vision Science. This award recognizes a vision clinician or scientist whose leadership, research and service have led to substantive advancements in the understanding of vision loss, treatment of eye disease, or the rehabilitation of people with vision loss.
Power list Ophthalmology 2020
The annual Power List provided by ‘The Ophthalmologist’ acknowledges the achievements of the most influential figures in ophthalmology and we are honoured that Dr. Gerrit Melles has been included in the Power List 2020.
Dr. Melles receives the 2019 Tilanus medal
In November 2019, Dr. Gerrit Melles received the Tilanus Medal that is awarded once every 10 years by the Dutch ‘Genootschap ter Bevordering van Natuur-, Genees- en Heelkunde’ for exceptional and ground-breaking contributions to the field of medicine. Dr. Melles received this award in recognition of his development of lamellar keratoplasty techniques.
Power list Ophthalmology 2018
We are honoured that Dr. Gerrit Melles has been included in the Power List 2018 of ophthalmologists. This annual list is provided by ‘The Ophthalmologist’ to ackowledge the achievements of the most influential figures in ophthalmology.
Science Award 2018 of the German Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery
On February 16th, 2018, Dr. Gerrit Melles was honoured with the Science Award of the German Society of Cataract & Refractive Surgery for his lifetime achievements. The Award was presented by Prof. Dr. Burkhard Dick, during the society’s annual meeting in Dresden, Germany.
Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research 2017
Dr. Gerrit Melles was awarded the Helen Keller Prize for Vision Research 2017 for his contribution of exceptional importance to vision science. He was selected by an international panel of scientists and physicians, independent of the Helen Keller Foundation. For further information, please visit the website of the Helen Keller Foundation.
2017 Research Award of the German Ophthalmic Surgeons
Congress of German Ophthalmic Surgeons, Nürnberg, Germany
NO. 11 in Power List – Top 100 most influential people in ophthalmology
The Ophthalmologist, United Kingdom
2016
Dastgheib Pioneer Award in Ocular Innovation
Duke University Eye Center, Durham, NC, USA
2015
S.I.C.S.S.O. Award 2015
Società Italiana Cellule Staminali Superficie Oculare, Lecce, Italy
2015
Guest of Honor at 750th Meeting of New England Ophthalmological Society
New England Ophthalmological Society, Boston, USA
2014
5th Optic Lecture of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists
Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Liverpool, United Kingdom
2013
13th Montgomery Lecture of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists
The Irish College of Ophthalmologists, Dublin, Ireland
2013
Ridley-Lecture at 25th DOC Congress
DOC Congress, Nuernberg, Germany 2012
Membership of Honor
El Instituto Barraquer, Barcelona, Spain
2010
Dr. Eduard Konrad Zirm Award
Rohovkovy Kongres, Prague, Czech Republic
2009
American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award
2009
Charles W. Tillett, MD Lecture
Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
2008
Mediglia d’Oro (Golden Medal) at 7th SITRAC Congress
SITRAC Congress, Milan, Italy
2008
American Academy of Ophthalmology Achievement Award
2005
