Grants>Eye

Beta Sigma Kappa Research Fellowships

The Beta Sigma Kappa (BSK) Research Fellowship program administered by the American Optometric Foundation (AOF) supports new optometric faculty research and/or optometric resident research.  The program’s funding is designed to benefit two young researchers each year whose academic curiosity leads them to seek answers to a vast variety of professionally-based questions covering a wide area of vision science, clinical practice, or eye related public health.

Eligibility

All optometry faculty within 3 years of faculty appointment and/or optometry residents at an accredited school or college of optometry, irrespective of membership in BSK, are eligible to apply for research fellowship award funding.

Application Procedures

Currently, there are two fellowships, each consisting of no less than $1,000, awarded annually.  Fellowship requests may exceed $1,000, and each fellowship will consist of no less than $1,000.  However, anything in excess of $1,000 will be at the discretion of the BSK Central World Council and may or may not be awarded.

Applications consisting of 5 pages or less, preferably in PDF format (International applicants with access limitations to a computer may submit in a typewritten format) as follow to: 

a.     Cover letter consisting of full contact information (including degree(s)), Institution, project title.

b.     Research plan

•    Statement of problem
•    Experimental design
•    Institution and other resources available
•    Relevance of problem to clinical optometry, vision science, or eye related public health
•    Plans for publication
•    Time table

c.     Budget explanation

•    State amount of grant request
•    Describe/Itemize costs
•    Justification for equipment, supplies and other expenses

d.   Helsinki declaration (required only if human subjects involved)
e.    Letter of endorsement by faculty advisor (resident applicants), Dean or President/Director of the school/ college (optional).

Applications will receive a confirmation receipt by e-mail from the Foundation within 1-3 business days of the submission.  If you do not receive a confirmation, contact the AOF office to ensure the application is received.

Deadline

The 2013 deadline for applications is August 16th.

Review Procedures

Applications will be reviewed by the BSK Board of Regents, the BSK Central World Council, both in collaboration with the AOF.

Award Conditions

Funds support research conducted for a period up to one year. The AOF is a non-profit organization; our policy is not to cover any indirect costs associated with research grants or any other of our programs. This policy applies uniformly to all award recipients.

Recipients must submit a final report of their research findings no later than one year post award. The preferred submission is an article in a form suitable for publication.

Recipients are encouraged to present at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Optometry and to submit a manuscript to Optometry and Vision Science. Any manuscript or publication material produced must acknowledge the American Optometric Foundation and Beta Sigma Kappa International Optometric Honor Society.

Recognition of Awardees

The recipients will be recognized at the American Optometric Foundation Celebration Luncheon during the American Academy of Optometry's Annual Meeting. This year to be held October 24-27th in Phoenix, AZ.

The awardees will be listed in the AOF Annual Report and announcements will be placed in the Academy newsletter and in Eye-Mail Monthly. Press Releases will be sent to all schools and colleges of optometry, optometric organizations, and the optometric press.

Submission of a proposal constitutes permission for BSK and/or AOF to use the applicant’s name and image in online and print materials.

For additional information about this award and the American Optometric Foundation, contact Tracy Kitts, Foundation Coordinator, at AOF@aaoptom.org or 321-710-3936.

Glaucoma Foundation Research Grant Program

The Glaucoma Foundation offers grants to researchers striving to improve the lives of glaucoma patients through novel innovations and scientific advances. The next deadline for grant applications is September 1, 2013. Initial grant funding for a one-year period is for up to $40,000; a grantee is permitted to apply for a grant renewal of up to $50,000. A renewal grant is a one year grant based upon research findings from the initial research.

For general application questions:

Marianne Howard
Director of Outreach Programs
The Glaucoma Foundation
80 Maiden Lane, Suite 700
New York, NY 10038
212.651.2509
mhoward@glaucomafoundation.org

For technical questions, please contact:

Robert Ritch, MD
Medical Director, Vice President, Secretary and Founder, TGF
Professor and Chief, Glaucoma Service
The New York Eye & Ear Infirmary
310 East 14th Street
New York, NY 10003
Fax: 212.420.8743
ritchmd@earthlink.net

Research to Prevent Blindness Grants Program

Applications for RPB grants must be submitted by the chairman of a department of ophthalmology and are then evaluated via a three-tiered review process. RPB Ad Hoc Committees, which are comprised of selected national vision research leaders, conduct initial grant reviews and forward their recommendations to the standing RPB Scientific Advisory Panel for further evaluation. The Advisory Panel includes some of the nation's most distinguished scientists representing a broad range of scientific disciplines and interests. Their recommendations are presented to the RPB Board of Trustees for final approval.

Please note: Grant applications are not available on RPB's website.  For complete grant guidelines and applications, or if you have any questions regarding RPB's Grants Program, contact RPB's Grant Administrator at 212.752.4333 or pmoran@rpbusa.org.

RPB accepts grant applications twice a year, January 1st and July 1st.

Call for Applications: Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation Fellowship Program

Blepharospasm, a form of focal dystonia, is a chronic, unremitting, bilateral, forcible closure of the eyelids. Sometimes the spasms that start in the eyelid muscles extend further down into the lower face, causing uncontrolled contractions of the jaw or tongue. This condition is called oromandibular dystonia (Meige Syndrome).

Blepharospasm is a rare disease with the incidence from 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 25,000, but it is related to other adult onset focal dystonias such as cervical dystonia (spasmodic torticollis), spasmodic dysphonia and focal hand dystonia (such as writer's and musician's cramp). Physicians and scientists who are knowledgeable about these conditions are needed and a fellowship training program will address this need by training and encouraging young investigators.

The Benign Essential Blepharospasm Research Foundation (BEBRF) is pleased to offer a research fellowship to support the training of exceptionally qualified physicians or scientists who wish to focus on blepharospasm with and without oromandibular dystonia. Fellowships will be awarded in the amount of up to $75,000 per year for two years. The training program should focus on research into new treatments, pathophysiology or the genetics of benign essential blepharospasm and oromandibular dystonia. Research into photophobia, dry eye, and apraxia of the eyelid opening as they relate to benign essential blepharospasm and oromandibular dystonia will also be considered for funding. Involvement in the activities of the Dystonia Coalition and participation in one or more annual BEBRF Symposiums will also be required.

Physician applicants must be board certified or board eligible in neurology or ophthalmology, have completed a residency, and hold or be able to hold an unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States. PhDs should have completed their degree. Applicants will need to describe their research plans in detail, and clinicians will need to describe their clinical training as well. Applicants must select a mentor at an institution who will be willing to sponsor the applicant and will help develop a training program for the fellow. The institution must provide information on their training environment, program curriculum, and available resources. Non-U.S. citizens working at institutions either in the USA or abroad are also eligible to apply for a fellowship.

Deadline to apply for this year's fellowship is June 30, 2013 for a fellowship to begin approximately on July 1, 2014. Decisions will be announced on August 31, 2013. Applications must be submitted via e-mail to bebrf@blepharospasm.org.