The Prevent Blindness America Investigator Award provides funding for clinically-based research investigating public health issues related to the burden of illness of eye-related health and safety topics. All research grants must focus on preserving sight and preventing blindness.
Funding priority is given to projects for research relating to clinically important eye diseases. Prevent Blindness America will give preference to clinical and disease-oriented grants or grants which investigate public health issues related to the burden of illness of eye-related health and safety topics. All research grants need to promote the core mission of Prevent Blindness America - preserving sight and preventing blindness. Basic laboratory science research will not be supported under this program. However, topical areas of interest for this program could include, but are not limited to:
- evaluation of new approaches to screening and diagnosis including new technologies, testing strategies, outreach to high-risk populations, follow-up protocols, and issues of patient compliance with screening recommendations,
- health services research designed to evaluate new strategies for delivery of eye care services, especially to underserved populations,
- development and evaluation of interventions to improve compliance with chronic medical therapy for glaucoma and other disorders requiring long-term treatment,
- studies to document the burden of ocular disease and vision loss, and their consequences to the population,
- evaluation of interventions designed to prevent or delay the onset of ocular diseases,
- studies to evaluate quality of life issues for individuals suffering from vision loss,
- evaluation of eye safety interventions for occupational, environmental, and recreational issues,
- research into the causes and potential prevention of ocular disease and vision loss on a population basis.
The research program is governed by the Program and Public Health Committee of Prevent Blindness America. Applications are reviewed by a volunteer panel of scientists.
Grants fund studies of priority interest for investigators who need assistance to defray costs of personnel, equipment and consumable supplies as needed for a specific research investigation. Travel costs are generally not supported but may be considered. Grants are awarded for a one-year period, range from $20,000.00 to $50,000.00, and commence on July 1. Please note grants are only given to the researching institution, not the individual investigator.
Although funding is limited, renewal support may be provided where significant research results have been obtained. Award recipients interested in renewal support must submit a progress report along with the standard completed application by March 1.
The annual deadline for receipt of applications is March 1. All materials submitted through the application process are the property of our research department and cannot be returned to you.
Institutions who apply for grants are notified of an award in writing by June 1. A signed letter of acceptance must be returned to Prevent Blindness America prior to project initialization. Included with the letter of acceptance, award recipients are required to submit a lay description of their research project. Due to limited resources for program administration, critiques of applications are not available.
Equal quarterly payments will be made to the institution unless other arrangements are negotiated in advance. No institution overhead charges are funded by Prevent Blindness America. An annual report and a project completion report will be required.
All applications proposing to conduct research involving human subjects must indicate that approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board where the research is to be undertaken. Approval date and institution must be indicated on the application.
Investigators using animals must adhere to the ARVO resolution on the use of animals in research (Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences 31:781, 1990). Approval date, institution and the approval number from the animal care and use committee at the institution must be included on the application. For complete details, please refer to the Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Visual Research at www.arvo.org
Final Report
A project report on the work conducted must be submitted within 60 days of the conclusion of the grant period. Manuscripts are acceptable in lieu of a final report. Also, a brief lay description of results and potential impact for eye disorders or research is required. A final expenditure report and refund of any unused portion of the award is required with the project report.
Manuscripts and Acknowledgments
All manuscripts, abstracts, reports and other publications resulting from Prevent Blindness America’s support must acknowledge that the study was funded (in whole or in part) by a grant from Prevent Blindness America. If awards are funded through a specific source, the investigator will be advised as to the appropriate acknowledgement. Manuscripts should be forwarded to Prevent Blindness America, upon acceptance, with the name of the journal in which it will be printed. Three reprints of published papers are required.
Time extensions to complete a project are allowed if the investigator cannot provide an adequate report within the allotted time. Commencement dates may be delayed if extenuating circumstances prevent a study from going forward. A written request is required for no-cost time extensions and should include the reason for delay, additional time required, summary of work accomplished to date, and a report indicating expenditures and any unexpended balance. Rebudgeting is encouraged if required to accomplish the goals of the project. A written request and Prevent Blindness America approval is required to rebudget personnel and equipment categories.
If circumstances prevent completion of the grant, Prevent Blindness America must be notified immediately. A report on the work conducted to the date of termination is required. Any unused portion of the grant must be returned with a final expenditure report.
All investigators must be citizens and permanent residents of either the United States or Canada. The applicant must be working in either the United States or Canada. All published materials and positions relative to research and eye-health will be listed on the application. Level of experience and related field work will be taken into consideration by the reviewers. A complete budget and detailed description of the research project will be required. All researchers will be required to remain in the United States or Canada for the duration of the project.
Any source of funding that has already been secured must be declared to Prevent Blindness America upon submission of the application. A list of all monies received and promised for the project must be listed on the application.
This form is a MS Word or pdf document that can be mailed directly to Prevent Blindness America:
211 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1700, Chicago, Illinois 60606.
The deadline for all applications and supporting materials is March 1, 2008.
Click here to download the application form (MS Word)
Click here to download the application form (pdf)
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