The world’s largest childhood myopia education resource developed by Australian optometry couple Dr Kate and Dr Paul Gifford has formed a new alliance with the renowned Centre for Ocular Research & Education (CORE).
This week Australian-based Myopia Profile and Canadian institution CORE – part of the University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science – unveiled the joint venture that aims to expand both organisations’ services and reach.
It brings together two groups considered at the forefront of research and education in their respective fields.
According to CORE (formerly known as the Centre for Contact Lens Research), the affiliation will grow its own clinical research capabilities, adding expertise in specialty lenses, gas permeable, orthokeratology and scleral contact lenses.
It will also provide Myopia Profile with priority access to a world-leading clinical research site, and further extend the professional and patient education capabilities for which each team is internationally known, including the areas of myopia management.
The heads of CORE and Myopia Profile – Dr Lyndon Jones and the Giffords, respectively – have a professional relationship dating back to the mid-1990s. They have often collaborated on projects, lectures and other initiatives designed to advance ocular health and science.
“We share many points of view with CORE – clinically and personally – making this partnership a natural evolution of our relationship,” Dr Kate Gifford said.
“Paul and I are delighted to be able to work more closely with the wider team at CORE, and look forward to sharing the results of this joint venture with the profession.”
Jones added: “We have long been aware of synergies in our work, along with areas where we can each extend the capabilities of the other. I’m delighted that the time is right for our respective organisations to take this step, and I am excited to see what we can achieve together.”
CORE and Myopia Profile will maintain their individual identities, facilities and staffing while pursuing projects together.
Myopia Profile is said to be the world’s largest and most popular, multi-channel educational resource for childhood myopia management. It was first built around the Clinical Myopia Profile patient communication tool developed by Dr Kate Gifford from 15 years’ experience in her Brisbane CBD practice.
Starting as a bulk email to share the tool, a website, then a Facebook group, the Myopia Profile now counts in its community many thousands of optometrists around the world, across web and social media platforms.
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