Apr 4, 2022

$2.5 million research competition to drive treatments for retinal degeneration

We’re excited to give our eNews readers a sneak peek at a new initiative Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) is launching this month. This competition will solicit applications from the best and brightest researchers in Canada and around the world, with the goal of driving treatments and cures for retinal degenerative diseases.

We will award up to two grants at $1.25 million each for projects that will help reduce or prevent vision loss or restore vision for individuals with retinal degenerative diseases including inherited retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, Usher syndrome or cone-rod dystrophy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma.

We have been inspired by our donors who enabled earlier transformative research initiatives to restore sight. This includes a $2.5 million investment through Restore Vision 20/20 for late-stage retinitis pigmentosa and the $1.5 million Cedric Ritchie fund to cure blindness that is supporting regenerative therapy for late-stage age-related macular degeneration. With this new competition, we are building on the promise and success of these programs.

Over our 48-year history, FBC has invested steadily and reliably in the Canadian vision research community. Supporting young investigators to get their foot on the ladder and providing seed funding through Research Grants to support projects at the early stage of development. Now with the support of our community we are taking the next step to help push the field to the next level. We will invest in projects that have the ability to significantly advance the field of vision research and impact a large number of Canadians living with retinal degeneration.

The competition will be open to discovery, translational or clinical research. Stem cells, optogenetics, new drug development, prostheses, clinical trials…the possibilities are endless. We are weeks away from launching this competition so stay tuned. We can’t wait to see the innovative ideas the vision research community comes up with!

Tell us with you think! What research ideas are you most excited about? Let us know by emailing research@fightingblindness.ca.