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Sightsavers launches new research website

June 2018
A young boy in a wheelchair smiles after having his eyes tested.
A young boy from a school eye screening programme in Tanzania.

Sightsavers has launched a new online research website to showcase its research projects and publications.

The research centre offers a comprehensive library of Sightsavers’ research activities and will provide a useful resource for academics, research institutions and policy makers interested in eye health, neglected tropical diseases, inclusive education and social inclusion.

Elena Schmidt, Sightsavers’ Director of Research, said: “We are committed to working collaboratively with a range of research partners. The research centre enables others to access our innovative research projects and findings. Sightsavers has a long history of conducting research, which currently underpins the full range of our policy, programme and influencing work.”

The site includes information on projects and publications, such as a recent Sightsavers research project to estimate the resources needed for improving access for marginalised groups to eye health services, as well as making recommendations for making health systems more inclusive.

The site also features evidence gap maps – innovative visual tools that highlight the amount of evidence available around particular areas of work, as well identifying where gaps exist.

In June 2017, Sightsavers was awarded Independent Research Organisation (IRO) status by Research Councils UK, making the organisation the only international non-governmental organisation working in our field to hold this status in the UK.

As an IRO, Sightsavers is eligible to apply for grants from the seven UK research councils, including the Medical Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council. To qualify as an IRO, organisations must prove to Research Councils UK that they “possess an existing in-house capacity to carry out research that materially extends and enhances the national research base and are able to demonstrate an independent capability to undertake and lead research programmes”.

Our new research centre site allows us to deliver on these requirements, providing access to our research and related resources. Visit the research centre site to learn more.

person filling in a form.

Research centre

Sightsavers' research centre hosts an online library of its research projects and publications.

Find out more about our research

Visit our research centre
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