The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) established the Corinne Kirchner Research Award in 2007 to honor the organization's longtime staff member, Corinne Kirchner, Ph.D. Dr. Kirchner’s groundbreaking research set the benchmark against which much of the subsequent research in the field has been compared. Her tireless pursuit of excellence in research led AFB and the blindness field at large to a higher level of expectation concerning the investigation of demographic data, analysis of outcomes in program and service delivery, and scientific examination of socio-ecological trends in the population of people who are blind or have low vision.
Qualifications and Criteria
AFB's Kirchner Research Award is intended to recognize research that employs a novel approach or investigates a new area of inquiry with the potential to impact policy or systems change.
Qualified candidates are individuals who, through their published work, have made groundbreaking contributions to the field of blindness and low vision. The work must have been published recently in a peer-reviewed journal or other scholarly publication, and address topics related to blindness or low vision.
Research that reflects innovative methods or inquiries will receive favorable consideration.
How to Submit Your Nomination
Individuals wishing to nominate a researcher or research team for the 2026 Corinne Kirchner Research Award should complete the online form.
In addition, two letters of recommendation should be emailed to JVIB@afb.org with the subject line "Kirchner Research Award." The deadline is May 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
Through the Corinne Kirchner Research Award, the American Foundation for the Blind seeks to acknowledge the importance of scholarly inquiry that results in the improvement of the lives of people who are blind or have low vision. Your nomination will allow us to honor the dedication of researchers in the field of visual impairment. We look forward to reading your submissions!
