Macular Degeneration Research Program: Postdoctoral Fellowship Program Grant

The Macular Degeneration Research Program's Postdoctoral Fellowship supports emerging scientists conducting research on age-related macular degeneration. This program aims to enhance understanding and treatment of the condition by providing $100,000 annually for two years. It encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds, fostering innovation in the field. The fellowship is intended for those who have recently completed their degrees and are in the final stages of mentored training. BrightFocus Foundation is dedicated to advancing scientific research through rigorous evaluation.

Macular Degeneration Research, a BrightFocus Foundation program, provides research funds for U.S. domestic and international researchers pursuing pioneering research leading to greater understanding, prevention, and treatment of age-related macular degeneration.
We strongly encourage applications from individuals who are from groups underrepresented in the field of age-related macular degeneration research.
Macular Degeneration Research is currently supporting a global portfolio of 58 active scientific projects, a more than $17 million investment. Our grants are vetted through a rigorous evaluation process by the world’s top scientists and clinicians who serve on our scientific review committee.
The MDR program offers three types of awards: Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, New Investigator Grant Program, and Innovative Research Grants.
Scope: This fellowship program is intended to support young postdoctoral researchers during their final stages of mentored training. The award provides salary support for a young scientist to conduct postdoctoral studies in an established laboratory focused on research contributing to understanding the biological causes and/or new clinical treatment of macular degeneration. The specific research proposed in the application should be focused on some aspect of research that will have an impact on understanding or treating macular degeneration and should also serve as the basis for the applicant's own independent research career.
Proposal Length: Two-page description of the proposed researchAward Amount: $100,000 per year (total value $200,000)Duration: 2 years

Eligibility

Candidates must hold an MD, PhD, DVM, DO, OD or equivalent degree received no more than four years before the time of application. For clinician scientists, this application should be submitted within two years after completion of their final clinical training. Exceptions to the above four-year and two-year eligibility period will be considered under unusual circumstances. Candidates must submit a written exception request to BrightFocus and obtain approval before applyingApplicant may apply for this fellowship before completing their terminal degree, if they have a firm commitment from the laboratory head in which training will take place, and the applicant is the main author of the applicationFellowship may be performed in a non-profit, governmental, academic research institution, or at a for-profit including start-up and biotech institution

Ineligibility

Previous recipients of this award are not eligible.