Leading Scientists Honored for Outstanding Ophthalmic Research.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- At the 26th Alcon Research Institute (ARI) Awards Symposium, the independent Scientific Selection Committee announced the 2007 Awardees recognized for their outstanding research contributions to the field of ophthalmology. The ARI, established in 1981 and sponsored by Alcon Laboratories, Inc., a subsidiary of Alcon, Inc., represents a unique example of industry support by identifying exceptional ophthalmic scientists and awarding each with $100,000 unrestricted grants to further their research endeavors.

"The Alcon Research Institute is a dynamic organization that year after year identifies exemplary ophthalmic researchers to represent the U.S. and international communities," said Jerry D. Cagle, Ph.D., senior vice president, Research and Development and chief scientific officer at Alcon and non-voting member of the Scientific Selection Committee. "The body of work submitted to the Scientific Selection Committee for this year's ARI Awards was quite impressive, representing some of the most important developments in basic and clinical eye research in recent years."

The 2007 ARI Award winners include:

* Rando Allikmets, Ph.D., Acquavella Associate Professor and Research Director, Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology & Cell Biology, Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University

* Dimitri Azar, M.D., Billie Alexander Field Chair of Ophthalmologic Research, professor and department head, University of Illinois at Chicago 

* Paulus de Jong, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical Ophthalmogenetics Department, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam

* Paul Lee, M.D., J.D., James Pitzer Gills, III, M.D., and Joy Gills Professor of Ophthalmology and vice chair, Department of Ophthalmology, Albert Eye Research Institute, Duke University

* Lois Smith, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital, Boston

* Bernhard H.F. Weber, Ph.D., professor and head of the Institute of Human Genetics, University of Regensburg, Germany

Over the past 26 years, the ARI has honored 228 scientists with the Alcon Prize, with a total of approximately $20 million provided to the recipients to advance their vision research. Each year, five to six awards are granted based on the nominee's research achievements. Many of these Awardees have also been recognized with awards from other leading organizations, including the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), International Society for Eye Research (ISER) and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons (ASCRS).

At this year's ARI Symposium, Awardees from 2005 and 2006 presented research results in a variety of eye-related research areas. During a special symposium session focusing on retinal diseases and drug therapy, Joan Miller, M.D., a 2002 ARI Awardee and professor and chair of ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School and chief of ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, presented a recent research study in the area of wet age-related macular degeneration.

"The ARI has made a profound impact on vision science research and the development of new therapies for eye diseases," said Miller. "Previously receiving the distinguished ARI Award and being associated with this prestigious group of vision researchers are career highlights, and I look forward to further progress in the coming years."

About the Alcon Research Institute

The Alcon Research Institute (ARI) supports global advancements in eye health by honoring those who make outstanding research contributions to the vision sciences. The ARI aims to further the study of eye health and create ongoing partnerships with vision researchers around the world. Each year, the ARI identifies exemplary leaders in ophthalmic research and honors each with this prestigious award and a generous, unrestricted grant to fund ongoing research.

About Alcon

With the largest corporate research and development commitment of any eye care company worldwide, Alcon develops pharmaceutical products to treat glaucoma, retinal diseases, dry eye, infection, inflammation and allergy; surgical products for cataract, vitreoretinal and refractive procedures, and consumer products in the areas of contact lens care, dry eye and ocular health. In 2006, Alcon invested $512 million to research and develop new products. Over the next five years, Alcon plans to invest more than $3 billion to discover and develop new treatments for conditions and diseases of the eye. For more information about the ARI and Alcon, please visit www.alcon.com.

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