The Scientific Research Director of the DOE’ s Artificial Retina Project Receives the R&D Magazine s 2005 Innovator of the Year Award

Summary

Dr. Mark Humayun, Principal Investigator and Medical Director of the DOE Artificial Retina Project, has been selected to receive this year’s prestigious R&D Magazine’s 2005 Innovator of the year award. As recipient of this international award, Dr. Humayun will receive a $5,000 cash prize and will be honored at the R&D Magazine’s 40th Annual R&D 100 Awards Banquet in Chicago on the evening of October 13, 2005. Each year, this international award recognizes one individual who has demonstrated excellence and creativity in the design, development, and introduction in the marketplace of one or more technologically significant products over the past five years. Working in collaboration with six DOE national laboratories, three universities, and a private company, Dr. Humayun has developed a very early stage (Model 1) 16 micro-electrode retinal implant that has successfully allowed six blind patients to see very large letters. A model 2 (60 micro-electrode device) is currently under development and should be ready for testing in patients in early 2006.