We will consider applications for clinical or laboratory-based research projects which can positively impact people with macular disease. This may include research into causes and prevention, early detection, treatments or improving quality of life. Researchers are welcome to submit grant applications to carry out research on any type of macular disease.

Criteria on which the applications will be judged:

• scientific quality
• innovation
• value for money
• relevance to the Macular Society's Research Strategy
• quality of proposed student training (PhD studentships only).
• potential for obtaining further funding resulting from the proposed research (Seedcorn grants only)

We strongly advise researchers to read the Macular Society's new Research Strategy 2020-2030 (see below) and the guidance provided in Information about our grants when preparing their grant applications. We also recommend looking at the Research Impact Report (see below) produced in 2019.

The Sight Loss and Vision Priority Setting Partnership set priorities for eye research in 2013 in 12 different areas.

One of the areas was AMD where 10 priorities were identified. All applicants who are invited to submit full applications are asked to specify, if applicable, which of the priorities their application addresses and how.

The Macular Society is a National Institute of Health Research non-commercial portfolio partner and a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC).

Any queries should be sent to research@macularsociety.org

Ad hoc funding requests

The Society does not accept ad hoc requests for funding.

Applications will only be considered within the context of the annual grant rounds and within the deadlines set for receipt of applications.

Peer review

It is important that the extent of peer review is in proportion to the amount of funding to be awarded.

Grants worth less than £5,000 must be reviewed by the Chair of the Research Committee.

Grants worth between £5,000 and £25,000 per annum must be reviewed by the Committee.

At least two external reviewers should be employed for all research grants worth over £25,000 per annum.

Terms and conditions

All successful applicants will be asked to sign and return a copy of our terms and conditions, which includes the following information:

• use of funds
• disbursement of funds
• reports
• presentation of reports
• funded extensions and no cost extensions
• monitoring
• capital items
• project modification
• under-expenditure or over-expenditure
• balance funds
• cancellation
• indemnification
• remittance and receipt of grant funds
• dispute settlement.

Where ethical approval is required, a copy of the approval letter must be received by the Macular Society before any funds are paid to the researcher.

Research Committee

The Research Committee includes one trustee and seven external representatives with relevant expertise. It meets three times a year having assessed, scored and ranked preliminary and then full applications for research grants and PhD studentships, and another meeting to discuss the seedcorn grant applications. Between meetings, members receive updates and provide advice by email. They also receive interim and final reports from all funded projects.

Macular Society Research Committee Membership

Professor Luminita Paraoan CHAIR
Eye and Vision Science, Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool

Bill Best, Macular Society Trustee and lay member

Dr Imre Lengyel
Senior Lecturer, Centre for Experimental Medicine, School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Science, Queen's University Belfast

Professor Alexander Foss
Consultant Ophthalmologist, Department of Ophthalmology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust

Professor Tariq Aslam
Professor of Ophthalmology and Interface Technologies, University of Manchester
Consultant Ophthalmologist, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital

Dr Michael Crossland
Specialist Optometrist & Hon Senior Research Associate University College London and Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Adnan Tufail
Consultant Ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust & Professor of Ophthalmolgy at University College London

Professor Astrid Limb
Professor of Retinal Biology and Therapeutics, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London