Child and Adolescent Eye Health Research
Enhance understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the full spectrum of eye health and disease in children and adolescents, including new methodologies, new or improved diagnosis, and treatments and cures.
This funding call is now closed.
The Medical Research Foundation and Moorfields Eye Charity are inviting applications from researchers who are seeking to progress the field of Child and Adolescent Eye Health.
The collaborative research grants aim to support research that will increase understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the full spectrum of eye health and disease in children and adolescents, including new methodologies, new or improved diagnosis, and treatments and cures.
Childhood and adolescent eye diseases and visual loss are associated with reduced wellbeing, increased need for educational support and ongoing eye problems into adulthood and later life. Investments have been made in adult eye conditions resulting in significant improvements in diagnostics and treatment options but research into child and adolescent eye disease remains an area of important investment. This funding call aims to support new research and research collaborations in this area, with the aim of bringing new research approaches to the field.
Applications are welcomed from researchers at all levels of seniority. We would particularly welcome collaborative grants led by the full spectrum of researchers working in the field, to allow multi-disciplinary and multi-professional projects. Expertise should be drawn from different research areas and professionals, allowing for collaboration between basic scientists, clinicians, optometrists, orthoptists and other allied health professionals.
The remit of the call will be the full spectrum of eye diseases and conditions usually seen in children or adolescents. Applications will be encouraged in common causes of vision loss to address areas where there is a large impact on people’s quality of life, but little progress has been made. Applications are not encouraged with a sole focus to conduct a genetics or genomics study, however, projects where genetic or genomic studies are carried out by collaborators or form part of the proposal, rather than the main focus, will be considered within scope.
Who can apply
This competition is open to all UK-based researchers, clinical academics and allied health professionals at eligible institutions (UK HEIs, Research Council research institutes, hospitals, and other independent research organisations).
The focus of the research should be in the UK. International Co-Investigators and Collaborators can be included in the application, but the majority of the funds and research should be UK based.
Applications will be considered from researchers at all levels of seniority. Proposals that aim to build capacity through the next generation of researchers are encouraged; costs relating to postdoctoral salary, training and collaboration development in the UK and internationally are permitted. Applications led by multi-professional collaborations, for example basic scientists, clinicians and allied health professionals, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria will not have their proposal assessed.
Only one application will be accepted per applicant, though individuals can hold more than one Medical Research Foundation or Moorfields Eye Charity grant at any one time. Please contact the Foundation if you currently hold a Medical Research Foundation grant.
If you have any queries about your eligibility for the scheme, please contact the research team via email at: research@medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk.
Funding available
Applicants applying for the research grants may apply for up to £300,000 to support their research, over a maximum of a 3-year period. There will be up to £1,700,000 available across this competition.
Timeline
- Deadline for Expression of Interest submission: 12:00 Wednesday 15 November 2023
- Invite to Full Application: 15 December 2023
- Deadline for Full Application submission: 12:00 13 February 2024
- Shortlisting notification – request for rebuttal: July 2024
- Deadline for rebuttal: July 2024
- Funding decision: September 2024
- Feedback on funding decision: September 2024
How to Apply
Applicants should apply online using our online grants management system.
Please see the Guidance for Applicants.
Applicants must use our Résumé for Researchers template in their application.
Queries
If you have any questions about any aspects of the application process, please contact a member of the Medical Research Foundation’s team.
Email: research@medicalresearchfoundation.org.uk
Tel: 0207 395 2314
Terms and Conditions of Award
Awards funded through this competition will follow standard Medical Research Foundation terms and conditions. The terms and conditions spell out the responsibilities of the Principal Investigator and the Lead Research Organisation. The Principal Investigator and the Lead Research Organisation are required to indicate their formal acceptance of the proposal, their acceptance of the terms and conditions of an award, and the approval of the salaries and resources sought in the application.
The Medical Research Foundation may add additional conditions to a grant award to reflect the particular circumstances and requirements of the funding, or the nature of a particular award. Acceptance of an award constitutes acceptance of both the core conditions and any additional conditions. The Medical Research Foundation reserves the right to vary these terms and conditions.
Expert Review Panel
The Panel will be Chaired by Professor Baljean Dhillon, The University of Edinburgh.
- Dr Tasanee Braithwaite, King's College London
- Professor Matthew Campbell, Trinity College Dublin
- Professor Chris Dickinson, University of Manchester
- Professor Lynda Erskine, University of Aberdeen
- Professor John Girkin, Durham University
- Professor John Lawrenson, City, University of London
- Professor Barbara Krystyna Pierscionek, Angela Ruskin University
- Professor Barbara Ryan, Cardiff University
- Professor Evelyne Sernagor, Newcastle University
- Professor Miles Stanford, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Expert Review
Applications will be reviewed by independent peer review