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 The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO).

On this page:

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.

The application success rate in 2023 was 31%.

The next call for funding will open in April 2024.

The call for PhD studentship applications focused on inherited macular dystrophies,  joint funded with Retina UK is now closed, 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 2024 was 31%.

The next call for Seedcorn grants will open in July 2024.

Travel grants

Each year, two grants of up to £2,000 are available for early career researchers (within 10 years of their last degree) to attend the annual meeting for the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO). Applicants must have been accepted to present on work in the field of macular disease. The grants are intended to contribute towards travel, accommodation, subsistence expenses and conference registration fees.

The 2024 call for Travel grants is now closed.

Find out more about our grants

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Research grants and PhD studentships link arrow

The Macular Society has an annual grant application round for research grants and PhD studentships. Applications for clinical or laboratory-based research projects which can positively impact people with macular disease will be considered. This may include research into causes and prevention, early detection, treatments or improving quality of life.

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Seedcorn grants link arrow

Seedcorn grants are up to £25,000 are available for projects with a maximum duration of 1 year, at a UK institution.

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Travel grants link arrow

Each year two travel grants of up to £2,000 each are available to enable early career researchers working in the field of macular disease to attend the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) annual meeting in the USA to present work.