The next round of Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA) Research Grants has been brought forward, with the applications period opening in October this year.
Applications for the program, which launched nine years ago, typically commence in March every other year, meaning researchers would have expected to begin applying for grants in March 2021.
However, MDFA has altered the timeline to now begin before the end of October. More details are to be announced closer to the time.
Since 2011, the MDFA Research Grants Program has committed $4.1 million to support world leading Australian researchers across 21 research projects.
Last October on World Sight Day, the organisation awarded $600,000 to advance research into Indigenous diabetic vision loss, sub-retinal fibrosis and novel disease detection methods.
The program aims to fulfil MDFA’s objective to support research to reduce the incidence and impact of macular disease and ultimately to find cures.
MDFA grants are considered significant contributions to Australian medical, social, low vision and nutritional research into macular disease.
They are awarded following rigorous evaluation, based largely on the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) process, along with peer review, to ensure that the successful applicants meet high standards.
Key criteria
- Grants are for Australian researchers and institutions to conduct research related to macular degeneration across a range of areas.
- The administering institution must be registered as an Administering Institution with the NHMRC and/or the ARC.
- The primary investigator must be based in an Australian institution.
- Co-investigators may be based in overseas institutions, but are not eligible to draw a salary from the grant.
- Institutions can submit more than one application.
Interested parties can register their interest on the MDFA website. More information on the MDFA Research Grants Program can be found here.
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