New report highlights value of early career research

The Macular Society has published its first ever PhD impact report, to demonstrate how funding early-career researchers is developing our understanding of macular disease, and improving the lives of people with sight loss. 

As a leading funder of macular research in the UK and a voice for people living with macular disease the Macular Society’s report provides an overview of the impact generated through the Society's PhD studentship programme. 

A PhD studentship funds a student to undertake a three-year research project. The student then submits a thesis to earn a PhD, which is the highest level of academic qualification and a pivotal part of career progression into research.

The start of promising research careers

Since the inception of the Macular Society's PhD programme in 2013, the Macular Society has funded 31 PhD studentships, worth a total of £3,052,966. These have been supported largely by generous donations from individuals, charitable trusts and foundations. 

Geraldine Hoad, head of the Macular Society's research grants programme, said: "PhD studentship grants enable vital research and help give scientists the best possible start to their research careers. 

"This report shows how funding PhD researchers is about so much more than a single research project. As well as creating new knowledge, it also helps develop the next generation of experts and can attract further investment into macular research, which is desperately needed in order to address the scale of the problem we face. 

"Macular disease is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK and it is vital we find better treatments and outcomes for people faced with losing their sight." 

A debt to Macular Society supporters

One of the studentships highlighted in the report is Dr Andrew Miller's project to understand the views of people with AMD about vision enhancement technology. He believes the studentship from the Macular Society was pivotal in his research career. 

Andrew said: “Without the Macular Society, it just simply would not have been possible. 

“I feel a huge debt to Macular Society members for supporting me, and I genuinely hope that the work I’ve done and work I will continue to do will pay off some of that debt." 

Meeting the scale of the challenge

One of the Macular Society's strategic goals for 2020-2030 is to build and support the scientific workforce. The aim is to increase the number of scientists involved in macular research to meet the scale of the challenge and support researchers to start collaborations and bring their research ideas to life. 

The report will help inform this strategy, while also providing supporters with a deeper understanding of the difference their generosity makes.