Funding scientific research
Fight for Sight funds scientific research. Our approach is to fund research that accelerates discoveries, builds talent, and creates connections between vision loss researchers and multiple disciplines.
Opportunities to fund scientific research
Scientific research is at the heart of our vision to Save Sight. Change Lives. We fund brilliant minds seeking to help us better understand, diagnose, prevent and treat vision loss - as set out in our research strategy.
The work we invest in has a proven track record of delivering impact, from the small grants we award to the larger project grants.
Small grants, big impact
Our small grants enable applicants to collect preliminary/pilot data to make research ideas more competitive. Often, they deliver evidence that unlocks future funding when developing more significant, follow-on funding and pushes research through to where it becomes a clinical trial and then directly benefits patients.
Project grants
Our project grants award funding of up to £250,000 and are for those proposing hypothesis-driven clinical or non-clinical stand-alone research projects that aim to address vision loss caused by any eye condition.
Developing talent across vision research
Fight for Sight's mission is to fund the brilliant minds and bright ideas putting change in sight for everyone impacted by vision loss. When it comes to brilliant minds, the UK boasts world-class research and research institutions. We want to encourage talented researchers to work in the field of vision loss and to stay within the field - and we've designed scientific research grants that enable us to do just that.
Encouraging clinician researchers
For example, our Zakarian Awards encourage those working in a clinic to buy time out to conduct scientific research. The Award is for members of The Royal College of Ophthalmologists to gain experience and undertake ophthalmic and vision research, which could lead to further research opportunities. Applicants typically bring a unique perspective having seen first-hand the impact of vision loss on patients within a clinic.
PhD studentships: developing the next generation of vision researchers.
These grants are specifically for supervisors proposing a PhD programme. They aim to encourage the development of talented, highly motivated graduates in ophthalmic and vision research.
“This scheme is all about building capacity to undertake research for the next generation because we always need a pipeline of researchers coming through." Explains Ranjeet Khare, Director of Development for Fight for Sight / Vision Foundation.
Read more about our approach to funding science to help us better understand, diagnose, prevent, and treat vision loss.
Connecting brilliant minds
Funding spotlight: UK Vision Research Network
Our vision is to Save Sight. Change Lives. We're impatient for change and constantly seek new ways to accelerate breakthrough discoveries in vision loss. We know the heart of scientific research is good scientists with passion and purpose.
Bringing these brilliant minds together provides inspiration and support, and uniting people from multiple disciplines and institutions develops fresh perspectives that can accelerate the understanding, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of vision loss.
That's why, in a UK-first, Fight for Sight is launching the UK Vision Research Network.
What is the UK Vision Research Network?
UKVRN will bring brilliant minds together, connected by their determination to tackle the biggest challenges in vision research through innovation and collaboration.
The first step in building this network is an exciting doctoral training programme, which will open in April 2025. This programme is unique because students will have co-supervisors from different institutions and ideally different disciplines. The main supervisor will collaborate with the co-supervisor to produce the application.
“We need to be creative in bringing researchers together to pool expertise and share resources in a collaborative approach spanning many years.”
An innovative approach to vision loss research
In a UK-first for vision loss, the UKVRN will deliver an innovative approach that will:
- Catalyse clinical breakthroughs: We'll work to save sight by accelerating the translation of early-stage research.
- Level up national involvement in vision research: We will foster dynamic, multidisciplinary collaborations across the devolved nations.
- Realise UK innovator potential: We will attract increased funding, securing the UK’s position as a global leader in vision research.
FAQs about the UK Vision Research Network
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What areas of research will the UKVRN focus on?
In our first phase, we’ll focus on retinal degeneration, which is one of the most significant causes of vision loss in the UK. Retinal degeneration refers to a group of diseases that can lead to progressive vision loss, including:
• Vision loss diseases that are prevalent within an ageing population,
• Systemic diseases such as diabetic retinopathy.
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How does the UKVRN address this unmet need?
The UK boasts exceptional talent, yet vision research is underfunded, given the burden of eye diseases. A lack of investment means the community is fragmented and unevenly distributed across the UK. By bringing researchers together, the UKVRN will coordinate efforts around a specific challenge, be strategic in our approach and accelerate research.
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- 2.5 million
- Vision loss is a significant public health issue, which affects 2.5 million people in the UK.
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- 3.5 million
- Vision loss is predicted to impact 3.5 million people by 2050.
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What will the UKVRN do exactly?
The network will launch with the creation of a Doctoral Training Programme, a hive mind focussed on retinal degeneration, supporting up to 10 PhDs over two years. All students will join a virtual peer network, forming a dedicated cohort with a common goal: accelerating progress. The focus will be on fostering new multidisciplinary collaborations, and each student will have a primary supervisor and co-supervisor at a different University.
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Why is Fight for Sight the right organisation to lead to UKVRN?
Fight for Sight is uniquely positioned to serve as the anchor charity as we take a disease-agnostic approach, focussing on the patient pathway. Our rigorous peer review ensures that the projects we fund are de-risked and have the greatest potential to be translated into meaningful impact to save sight and change lives.
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Why are you focussing on retinal degeneration?
Common vision loss conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and inherited retinal diseases are driven by retinal degeneration, the breakdown of retinal nerve cells. Retinal degeneration is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. With an ageing population, its prevalence is increasing, burdening individuals, their families, the NHS, and the wider economy.
Meet the team
We'd love to hear from you if you're interested in funding scientific research. Whether you're interested in philanthropy, are a trust or foundation, work for a donor advised fund or, are a major donor or work in Corporate Social Responsibility. Please get in touch.
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Breakthrough discoveries
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Developing talent
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Connecting brilliant minds
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Get in touch
- Breakthrough discoveries
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- Connecting brilliant minds
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