2024 BrightFocus NGR Standard Research Award

Eligibility

BrightFocus provides research funds for U.S. and international researchers pursuing pioneering research leading to greater understanding, prevention, and treatment of glaucoma.

The 2024 BrightFocus NGR Standard Research Award Standard Awards are open to tenure- and non-tenure track investigators of any career stage who are appropriately trained to lead an independent research study and are permitted by their organizations to manage grants and supervise key personnel.

Specific eligibility criteria include:

• Candidates must hold an MD, PhD, DVM, DO, OD or equivalent degree
• Applicant must serve as the Principal Investigator on the project and have independent laboratory space. The applicant should use the indicated space on the application forms to clarify any position that is not immediately recognizable as an independent research position.
• While some of the grant can be used to support salary for the PI, the percent requested should be limited to the lesser of 25% of the total grant request, or 25% of the individual’s salary. Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) salaries are capped at the lesser of 15% of the total grant request, or 15% of the individual’s salary.
• Applicants may currently be working in a non-profit, governmental, academic research institution, or at a for-profit including start-up and biotech institution

Summary

The goal of the BrightFocus Foundation research grants program is to advance innovative research promoting advances in the etiology, prevention, and treatments of Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. BrightFocus aims to help people live free from diseases of mind and sight. The Foundation is interested in supporting high risk studies that illuminate areas for which there currently is little understanding, helping to bring to light crucial knowledge about these three devastating diseases.

This is accomplished by relatively small grants for investigator-initiated research that are designed to allow scientists the opportunity to develop the preliminary data necessary to be considered competitive for larger government or corporate types of sponsorship.  The focus of the program is on projects that, although associated with high risks, will offer high yields in terms of growth of the field.  More incremental proposals, or proposals that might be easily funded through existing resources, are discouraged.  While prior awardees are welcome to submit new proposals following the conclusion of the previously-sponsored project, the new proposals should not be extensions of the prior project.

The 2024 BrightFocus NGR Standard Research Award provides significant funding for researchers who have already generated some amount of preliminary data, but are often required to demonstrate additional, significant progress before they can apply to governmental or industrial funding agencies.

Application Submission

All applications must be completed through the BrightFocus online portal. To start a new application, go to https://proposalcentral.com/ and login under the “Application Login” section. If you do not have an account yet, click the orange “CREATE ONE NOW!” button under the Application Login.

University of Calgary applicants must obtain institutional approval from the University of Calgary prior to submitting their applicationto the sponsor. Initiate required University of Calgary internal approvals by completing a Pre-Award/application record in RMS (https://my.rms.ucalgary.ca/)/. Attach a copy of your complete application materials submit for approvals. Please ensure that you allow time for academic approvals prior to the Research Services Office internal review deadline of 12:00pm MT, October 26, 2023.

To access the application portal, click the blue-encircled Apply Online/arrow on the BrightFocus website at: http://brightfocus.org/research/apply/main.html, where you will be taken to a registration and login page.

Overhead

Not Applicable. All Grant Funds must be used exclusively for research and research equipment not for overhead, capital expenditures, administrative costs or other peripheral costs.

Application deadlines

RSO detailed review deadline

RSO final internal review deadline

Program application deadline

NOTE: Consult your Faculty Associate Dean (Research) (ADR) regarding Faculty-specific deadlines and submission processes.

Principal Investigators: Complete a Research Management System (RMS) record, including a copy of your complete application, and submit this for approvals in RMS.

Approvals: The University of Calgary requires that all funding applications be approved prior to submission. Approval requires signatures via RMS in the following order:

• Principal Investigator
• Department Head
• Faculty ADR/Dean
• Research Services (on behalf of the Vice-President Research)

Read the Meaning of Grant Signatures policy to understand what your approval means. Please see the agency guidelines for details about which signatures are required on your application, as it may differ from internal requirements.

Late submissions: Late submissions will only be accepted in cases of medical or family emergencies, or other exceptional circumstances. If you submit your RMS record to Research Services after the internal deadline has passed, you must secure additional approvals. Please read: Late Applications Process.

Additional Resources

Application Instructions

Terms and Conditions