RFPs: National Glaucoma Research Program

BrightFocus is committed to supporting scientists from diverse backgrounds to foster creativity and innovation in addressing complex scientific challenges. They strongly encourage applications from individuals who are from groups underrepresented in the field of glaucoma research.

Award Categories

• The NGR program offers two types of awards:
  • Standard Awards 
    • The goal of the BrightFocus Foundation research grants program is to advance innovative research promoting advances in the etiology, prevention, and treatments of Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. The Foundation is interested in supporting high risk studies that illuminate areas for which there currently is little understanding, helping to bring to light crucial knowledge about these three devastating diseases.
    • This is accomplished by relatively small grants for investigator-initiated research that are designed to allow scientists the opportunity to develop the preliminary data necessary to be considered competitive for larger government or corporate types of sponsorship. The focus of the program is on projects that, although associated with high risks, will offer high yields in terms of growth of the field. More incremental proposals, or proposals that might be easily funded through existing resources, are discouraged. While prior awardees are welcome to submit new proposals following the conclusion of the previously-sponsored project, the new proposals should not be extensions of the prior project.
    • The standard award provides significant funding for researchers who have already generated some amount of preliminary data, but are often required to demonstrate additional, significant progress before they can apply to governmental or industrial funding agencies.
  • Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards
    • This fellowship is available to researchers within four years of degree conferral or end of residency or fellowship. Exceptions to the above four-year eligibility period will be considered under unusual circumstances. Candidates must submit a written exception request to BrightFocus and obtain approval before applying. The application for this fellowship must be written by the intended fellow in conjunction with the mentor/laboratory head where the fellowship will be conducted. The application should be submitted through the business office of the institution where the fellowship will take place. Should the fellowship support be funded, the award is for support of the fellow and not for the mentor directing the research.
    • This award is intended to support the fellow’s salary, health insurance and travel to attend a scientific meeting each year to present BrightFocus-funded research.
    • Postdoctoral fellowship awards are intended for young researchers in their final stages of mentored training. These awards fund projects in an established laboratory that will serve as the basis for the applicant’s own independent research career.

Funding Information

• Standard Awards
  • Award Amount: $200,000
  • Duration: 2 years
• Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards
  • Award Amount: $150,000
  • Duration: 2 years

Eligibility Criteria

• Standard Awards
  • Standard Awards are open to tenure- and non-tenure track investigators of any career stage who are appropriately trained to lead an independent research study and are permitted by their organizations to manage grants and supervise key personnel.
  • Specific eligibility criteria include:
    • Candidates must hold an MD, PhD, DVM, DO, OD or equivalent degree
    • Applicant must serve as the Principal Investigator on the project and have independent laboratory space. The applicant should use the indicated space on the application forms to clarify any position that is not immediately recognizable as an independent research position.
    • While some of the grant can be used to support salary for the PI, the percent requested should be limited to the lesser of 25% of the total grant request, or 25% of the individual’s salary. Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) salaries are capped at the lesser of 15% of the total grant request, or 15% of the individual’s salary.
    • Applicants may currently be working in a non-profit, governmental, academic research institution, or at a for-profit including start-up and biotech institution
• Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards
  • Specific eligibility criteria include:
    • Candidates must hold an MD, PhD, DVM, DO, OD or equivalent degree
    • Applicant may apply for this fellowship before completing their terminal degree, if they have a firm commitment from the laboratory head in which training will take place, and the applicant is the main author of the application
    • Fellowship may be performed in a non-profit, governmental, academic research institution, or at a forprofit including start-up and biotech institution
    • Previous recipients of this award are not eligible.

For more information, visit BrightFocus Foundation.