 PhD, Global Head of Research & Development, CIBA VISION and member of the CIBA VISION Executive Team
Dr Franck Leveiller is CIBA VISION’s Global Head Research & Development. He joined this leading company in June 2009, after two years with Novartis Pharmaceuticals as Global Head Technical R&D, Project Management. With more than 17 years of R&D experience in the pharmaceutical industry, working across different geographies and cultures, Franck has a strong track record in applying strategic thinking to complex projects and leading large teams of scientists and engineers.
Prior to Novartis, he held R&D positions with pharmaceutical companies such as AstraZeneca, Aventis and Rhône-Poulenc Rorer.
Dr Leveiller has a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, where he was awarded the John F. Kennedy Memorial prize for outstanding PhD research work.
Abstract
Vision care has seen major breakthrough innovations over many centuries, starting with the first known pair of eye glasses carved out of wood in the Middle Ages and Leonardo Da Vinci developing the first concept for contact lenses in the 15th century. Countless innovations followed.
Particularly over the past 30 years, the contact lens industry has made game-changing advances in providing the gift of sight through invention of new technologies, highly breathable materials and lens designs, while addressing specific patient needs. Over 125 million people’s lives have been transformed by contact lenses, and that number increases daily.
This presentation will focus on the past, present and future trends in vision correction. Major emphasis will be placed on how innovation has changed the way that eye care practitioners address the specific needs of their patients.
The combination of fundamental and applied research will address still unmet consumer needs, evolving lifestyles and changing demographics. It will create countless opportunities for innovative vision correction solutions.
This presentation will also privide an outlook of what is next in vision correction. Contact lenses that preserve vision, lenses that are more comfortable than no lenses at all, lenses that can dispense medicine to treat diseases - such innovation will, however, only occur through the joint efforts between industry and research institutes. |
