Applications for Glaucoma Research

Founded in 1973, the BrightFocus Foundation funds scientific research worldwide to defeat Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma and provides expert information on these diseases.

The foundation invites applications for its National Glaucoma Research Grant to advance its mission. BrightFocus Foundation awards grants for research on the causes of or treatments for glaucoma. Through the program, two grant opportunities are available:  

Standard Awards: Grants of up to $200,000 over two years will be awarded to researchers who have already generated some preliminary data but are often required to demonstrate additional, significant progress before applying to governmental or industrial funding agencies.  Traditionally, to be eligible for grant funding from the BrightFocus’ National Glaucoma Research (NGR) Standard Award Program, the principal investigator must have held an academic rank equivalent to or higher than Assistant Professor. In recent years, many outstanding junior faculty have taken non-tenure track positions that might have been developed as tenure-track positions in earlier years. Though BrightFocus continues to encourage innovative proposals from all career stages, BrightFocus’ guidelines have evolved with the field to extend eligibility to non-tenure-track applicants. 

Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards: Grants of up to $150,000 over two years will be awarded to young researchers in their final stages of mentored training. These awards fund projects in an established laboratory that will be the basis for the applicant's independent research career. Postdoctoral Fellowships are available to junior and senior postdoctoral fellows. Applicants with pending appointments are eligible to apply, but the appointment must be finalized by the start of the award.  

For complete program guidelines and application instructions, see the BrightFocus Foundation website.