Zakarian Awards 

Further information

The Zakarian Awards are designed to support three categories of researchers:

• Ophthalmology trainees not in the IATS or other research training posts seeking to undertake research. Support can be sought for consumables, equipment and open access dissemination and for salary support to buy ‘time out’ from a training programme to undertake research.
• Consultants or SAS ophthalmologists holding NHS substantive contracts and without dedicated research time (PAs in job plan). Those holding academic posts/contracts are ineligible. Support can be sought for buying out time in the job plan for research, or for consumables or equipment to establish a research project.
• Academic Clinical Fellow (NIHR IATS ACF) Ophthalmology trainees seeking to prepare preliminary/pilot data to develop their proposed PhD projects and/or doctoral research training funding applications. Support can be sought for consumables, equipment and open access dissemination.

We are especially keen to support those without any or very limited prior research experience and/or those not in academic posts in order to help them get started in research, in in line with RCOphth’s position statement on Ophthalmic Research By All. 

Timeline

• Applications open - 9 April 2025
• Deadline - 18 June 2025
• Stage 1 outcome - August 2025
• Interviews (Stage 2 invited applicants) - 3 September 2025
• Funding outcome shared with applicants - September 2025

Eligibility

• Lead applicants must be members of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.
• Applicants with no or limited prior research experience are especially welcome to apply.
• As this scheme is designed for ophthalmologists to gain research skills, the lead applicant should be carrying out most of the work.
• Proposals to ‘top up’ existing research funding are not eligible, but stand-alone 'bolt-on' projects to a larger, existing piece of work are permitted.
• Lead applicants must be affiliated with UK academic or medical institutions.
• The research must take place within the UK.
• Applications are limited to one per lead applicant.
• The Mentor (rather than the lead applicant) is required to have a contract of employment at the host institution which extends beyond the end date of the award.

Financial support

Funding is made in line with AMRC’s position statement on supporting research in universities.

• Applications can include costs for:
  - Buying “time out” of training programme or clinics
  - Consumables
  - Equipment essential for the project
  - Animal costs
  - Open access publication costs
  - Conference costs
  - Other expenses, such as PPIE or travel
• Applications cannot include costs for:
  - Maintenance of equipment
  - Recruitment costs
  - Indirect costs
  - Non-attributable overhead costs

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.

You must submit your application for approval by the stated deadline for your submission to be processed.

Following submission, applications will require approval from two authorised signatories of the host institution (Head of Department and Finance Office). 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.

Go to Grant Tracker