Our grant programmes

The Macular Society has two calls for grant applications each year. In April we invite applications for Research Grants and PhD Studentships. In July we invite applications for Seedcorn grants.

In addition, we offer a travel grant specifically for researchers in the early years of their career to attend and present at ARVO.

Research grants

Grants of up to £250,000 over three years are available for research at UK institutions only. Projects can be for the maximum term or for a shorter period (e.g. two years), as long as the project is deemed to be good value for money.

PhD studentships

Studentships of up to £120,000 are available to cover a stipend, fees and consumables over three years. PhD students should be based at a UK institution and a graduate in a relevant subject. Payment of PhD fees will be limited to the home rate. Students required to pay the international rate can still be recruited but will need to cover the balance from other sources.

The 2024 call for Research grant and PhD Studentship applications is now closed.

Deadline for receipt of preliminary applications was 29 May 2023.

The application success rate in 2023 was 31%.

PhD studentship focused on inherited macular dystrophies,  joint funded with Retina UK is open, find out more on the Retina UK website

Seedcorn grants

Grants of up to £25,000 are available for projects with a maximum duration of 1 year, at a UK institution. Applications may be for clinical or non-clinical research. Seedcorn grants are not intended to be used as ‘top-up’ funds to meet a shortfall in funding from another body.

The 2024 call for Seedcorn grants is now closed.

The application success rate in 2023 was 60%.