UKVRN Doctoral Training Programme
Fight for Sight is launching a new and exciting Doctoral Training Programme (DTP). This programme aims to harness collaboration to deepen our understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of retinal degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss and blindness.
This programme is the first step in the creation of this collaborative, multi-disciplinary network focused on vision research with translational potential. PhD Studentships funded under the UKVRN DTP must show evidence of a collaborative approach to research and supervision. We are therefore asking the host supervisor to collaborate on the application with a co-supervisor from a different UK organisation, and ideally a different discipline. Both will co-supervise the doctoral student selected for their project.
- Maximum funding: up to £163,000 for London based host-organisations or £155,000 (elsewhere in the UK) *
- Duration: 4 years
- Deadline: 23 July 2025
Eligibility
- Applications must be made by the potential PhD supervisory team and may have a basic, translational or clinical research focus.
- The supervisory team (Host and Co-supervisors) must hold either a PhD or MD and be affiliated with UK-based academic or medical institution(s).
- The host institution must be based in the UK, although with justification, a small amount of time can be spent outside the UK to enable the student to travel to collaborator(s) to learn techniques required for their project. Plans and costs should be clearly stated and justified in the application form.
- UKVRN DTP students are expected to conduct research related to their thesis at both the host institution and the co-supervisor’s institution.
- Supervisors must either hold a tenured position or be able to demonstrate that they are recipients of grant funding/ have salary provision which will extend beyond the end date of the Doctoral Training Programme.
- The scheme does not cover funding gaps for Studentships already started.
- Supervisors may not submit applications to both this scheme and the standard Fight for Sight PhD Studentship scheme in the same funding round.
Financial support
Funding is made in line with AMRC’s position statement on supporting research in universities.
Eligible costs for applications:
- Stipends (students should receive a stipend aligned with the current UKRI rate)
- PhD fees at UK rates
- Consumables
- Essential equipment for the project
- Animal costs
- Open access publication costs
- Conference costs for the student (including one international conference)
- Other expenses (e.g., PPIE or travel)
- Additional funding to support travel and accommodation for the student to spend time at the co-supervisor’s institution (up to £20,000).
Applicants must provide a detailed budget for these expenses in their application.
Applications cannot include costs for:
- Salaries for the supervisors
- Maintenance of equipment
- Recruitment costs
- Indirect costs
- Non-attributable overhead costs
Guidance
- The supervisor at the host organisation will be the main applicant and will initiate the application on our grants system. Once started, they can add the ‘co-supervisor’ to the application.
- Co-supervisors can edit the application form on the system once participation is confirmed.
Application process
All applications must be submitted via Fight for Sight’s Grant Tracker system. New applicants must register for an account to access the application form. Returning applicants can login to their existing account.
Host institution and supervisor responsibilities
We encourage greater collaboration between supervisors in training their students. However, each student can only be registered at one institution. Prospective supervisors must decide which organisation the student will be registered with (the host organisation) before applying.
You must submit your application for approval by the stated deadline for your submission to be processed.
Your application will require approval from two authorised signatories of the host institution (Head of Department and Finance Office) following application submission on grant tracker. We allow 48 hours (two days) from the deadline for approvals. It is recommended to seek the appropriate signatories as early as possible, as these must be added when you submit your application. Please consider any annual leave and double check email addresses, as applications with outstanding approvals 48 hours past the deadline will not be processed.
Review process
Fight for Sight is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and follows their guidelines for best practice in peer review.
UKVRN Doctoral Training Programme involves a one-step process.
Applications will be scored by up to three external peer reviewers who are experts in the field and may include members of the Research Grant Assessment Panel (RGAP).
To ensure that we fund the highest quality research, successful awards must pass a minimum quality threshold as determined by Fight for Sight's RGAP.
Applications, reviews and rebuttals will be discussed at the RGAP meeting. The RGAP will make recommendations to Fight for Sight's Social Impact and Scientific Research (SISR) Committee on which applications are fundable. SISR will consider the RGAP feedback and strategic interests of the charity when making the final funding decision.
Outcomes and further feedback will be shared with all applicants who submitted a full application.
The following review criteria across three key themes are used when considering the application:
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Key theme 1: Capacity building
Category 1: Training and opportunities
- Focus on training and development
- Support from research team and environment
Category 2: Future in vision research
- Demonstrated interest in remaining, becoming, or training a vision researcher
Category 3: Collaboration
- Meaningful engagement between institutions, demonstrating shared leadership and responsibility
- Integration of knowledge and methods from different disciplines to enhance research quality and impact
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Key theme 2: Scientific merit
Category 1: Project
- An important, clear and focused research question, which is hypothesis driven and/or a PICO question
- Achievable in the timeframe
- Adequate and appropriate methods for the research question
- Evidence to support the feasibility of the project
- Adequate and appropriate plans for the evaluation of research outcomes, including a sample size / power calculation
Category 2: Research team and environment
- A research team with suitable experience and expertise evidenced by a good track record that will contribute to the project's success
- A research environment with the appropriate facilities and resources
Category 3: Governance
- Appropriate consideration for risks, budget and ethics
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Key theme 3: Importance of research
Category 1: Addressing unmet scientific or patient need in retinal degeneration
- Evidence of patient centricity
- Realistic outline of pathway to potential benefit for people with or at risk of sight loss
Category 2: Pathway to impact
- Clear pathway to impact, including how findings could translate into real-world applications
- Feasibility of translating research findings into clinical, technological, or policy outcomes
- Likelihood of generating significant new understanding or evidence
Any questions?
You can contact our scientific research team with your questions or for support by email.
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Timeline
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Eligibility
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Financial support
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Process
- Timeline
- Eligibility
- Financial support
- Process