Ramin Tadayoni Award 2025 winner announced at EURETINA Congress

Update: Prithvi Ramtohul, MD, is the 2025 recipient of the Ramin Tadayoni award. Dr. Ramtohul, a PhD candidate based in Marseille, France, completed his medical retina fellowship in Paris under Prof. Tadayoni. He also completed a research fellowship in the United States at New York University, working with K. Bailey Freund, MD. He is affiliated with Aix Marseille Université.

The award will support research that Dr. Ramtohul has already explored as part of his PhD project. "We're completing fundamental studies in mouse retina, using electrophysiologic testing to study the retinal ganglion cells," Dr. Ramtohul said. The aim of the research is to establish the intrinsic plasticity of retinal ganglion cells. "Like the neurons of the brain or the thalamus, the retina can also have some plasticity," he said. Advancements in this research space could further strengthen the link between neurological and retinal research.

Dr. Ramtohul said the award funding will expand the scope of imaging used in the study. "Now, we are just focusing on electrophysiology. We can add imaging studies, using in vivo OCT or autofluoresence of the retinal cell," he said. "That would be a great advancement to the research we are currenttly doing."

His hope is that additional testing will unveil broader ophthalmic implications, and more avenues for therapies across a range of pathologies. "We want to prove that retinal ganglion cells are also involved in common diseases like amblyopia," Dr. Ramtohul said. He hopes to demonstrate that retinal ganglion cells can be a target for treating a wide array of conditions, including amblyopia and strabismus, retinitis pigmentosa, and glaucoma. "This is a huge honor. I am very grateful to the EURETINA board, and the community to give me this tremendous award," Dr. Ramtohul told Modern Retina. He also encouraged other retina speclaists to apply for the award in 2026 and beyond, to further expand the realm of retinal research.

Prithvi Ramtohul, MD, is a PhD candidate based in Marseille, France. He has previously worked in Paris and New York City.

During the 2024 congress of the European Society of Retina Specialists (EURETINA), the organization’s leadership presented the inaugural Ramin Tadayoni Award. The award was established in memory of a leader in retina research, who is also counted as a dear friend and colleague to many in the retina community, Ramin Tadayoni, MD, PhD. Prof Tadayoni was president of EURETINA at the time of his passing in April 2024. In his memory, the annual award will grant €30,000 for research support, and an additional €5,000 directly to the candidate, supported by EURETINA and Oculis Holding AG.

Andrea Govetto, MD, PhD, received the 2024 Ramin Tadayoni Award, presented during the opening ceremonies of the EURETINA Congress. He is a vitreoretinal surgeon at the Oftalmico-Fatebenefratelli Hospital, ASST-Fatebenefratelli-Sacco, Milan, Italy. Dr. Govetto was recognised for his efforts in developing a computational model of fluid flow and retinal tissue deformation in macular edema.

“Macular edema is something that many people think is obvious, but is not, because we actually don't know why the cysts form, where they are located, and why they persist, in some cases,” Dr. Govetto explained in an interview at the 2024 EURETINA Congress. “This award will [fund a team of engineers] to make a mathematical simulation, and explain why the cysts in macular edema form, and why so specifically in the macula, which is a very particular part of the retina.” Dr. Govetto went on to say that the newly-funded research would help identify specific factors of the morphology of the cell which can lead to macular edema.

About the award

The award recipient is chosen by a panel of leading retina specialists, nominated by the EURETINA Board and Oculis. Per the EURETINA website, applicants for the Ramin Tadayoni award must satisfy the following eligibility criteria:

• Applicants must be post-doctoral or clinical fellows conducting research in the retina field in a specialised retinal unit or university hospital in a European country. The award committee will consider applicants from all member states of the European Union (EU), countries within the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
• Applicants must hold an MD and or PhD and have completed their most recent doctoral degree or medical residency within the past ten years by the start of the award (2026).
• Applicants must be current EURETINA members.

Remembering Ramin Tadayoni

“This award is specifically intended to be for young retina specialists, to support them in their research. It’s a nice sum of money, and I’m sure that it will make an impact in the world of retina,” said Anat Loewenstein, MD, president of EURETINA. “Ramin passed away after 4 months of his presidency, and because I was the president-elect, I need to continue right after him, which is not easy. Ramin, over the years, really supported me, and I want to continue his legacy.”

“I am hoping this is just the beginning for this award, and all the good it can do in the retina community,” Prof Loewenstein added. Prof. Tadayoni was a champion of education access and continued mentorship. Supporting the next generation of retina specialists is the best way to honor him, Prof. Loewenstein said. “His legacy was to do more to make our society a real society—one that not only has a meeting, but also has other purposes, such as mentorship programmes, supporting women in retina, providing and establishing various guidelines on controversial topics, and being an accessible educational resource.”

References

1. Hayes H. EURETINA 2024: Andrea Govetto, MD, PhD, says it takes teamwork to understand macular oedema. Ophthalmology Times Europe. Published September 20, 2024. Accessed September 4, 2025. https://europe.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/euretina-2024-andrea-govetto-md-phd-says-it-takes-teamwork-to-understand-macular-oedema

2. Hayes H. Remembering a legend: EURETINA members speak about the Ramin Tadayoni Award. Ophthalmology Times Europe. Published September 9, 2024. Accessed September 4, 2025. https://europe.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/remembering-a-legend-euretina-members-speak-about-the-ramin-tadayoni-award