Professor Cunha-Vaz was one of the true protagonists of modern Ophthalmology. A member of a pioneering generation, together with figures such as Alain Bird, Eva Kohner, Achim Wessing, Rosario Brancato, Bruno Lumbroso, Gabriel Coscas and many others, he contributed to building the cultural and scientific foundations of our discipline. Each of them pursued progress through a clear and personal vision that profoundly shaped both clinical practice and research.

Research on diabetic retinopathy was never for Prof. Cunha-Vaz a single chapter of his career, but rather its true professional raison d’être. From the very beginning, he oriented and devoted his entire scientific activity to understanding this disease: from its anatomy and pathophysiology to the development of diagnostic tools and their clinical application. Those who knew him well know that José did not simply “work” on diabetic retinopathy — he lived it. It was the common thread of every discussion, every project, every day. Even in informal conversations, the same attention, curiosity, and urgency to understand more deeply always emerged.

Prof. Cunha-Vaz firmly believed that scientific research was a responsibility toward society and humanity. From his formative years in Coimbra and London, and later strengthened by his experience in the United States, he consciously chose to give back through knowledge what he had received as a physician and scholar. His scientific rigor and clinical vision shaped and influenced entire generations of researchers and clinicians. Through AIBILI – the Association for Innovation and Biomedical Research on Light and Image – and EVICR.net – the European Vision Institute Clinical Research Network – he was among the key figures in building structures and collaborative networks that today represent a fundamental pillar of European ophthalmic research. The creation and consolidation of these networks have ensured, and will continue to ensure, that we can address research challenges at a globally competitive level.

Beyond his scientific stature, José was also a friend to many of us. A constant presence at national and international meetings, he was a thoughtful and generous interlocutor, capable of discussion marked by rigor, but also by genuine humanity and passion.

We express our deep gratitude for his scientific legacy, which will continue to live on through the people he trained and the research paths he helped to open. The history of diabetic retinopathy is now inseparably linked to the name of Professor José Cunha-Vaz.

With respect and esteem,

Francesco Bandello