RPB Walt and Lilly Disney Award for Amblyopia Research

The RPB Walt and Lilly Disney Award for Amblyopia Research is a grant opportunity provided by Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) aimed at enhancing research efforts in the diagnosis and treatment of amblyopia. This award is specifically designed to support ophthalmic scientists who are conducting research of significant promise in this field. Eligible applicants include individuals holding MDs, PhDs, MD/PhDs, or equivalent doctoral degrees, and they must be affiliated with any institution of higher education within the United States. The total funding available for this award is $150,000, which may be divided among one or more recipients. The grant is intended to support independent research and is available to researchers at various stages of their academic careers, from Assistant Professor to full Professor. Department chairs, including interim or acting chairs, are responsible for nominating candidates, with each department allowed to nominate only one candidate. Previous recipients of this award who have not received it in the past five years are eligible to reapply. Awardees are required to utilize the funds within two years of receiving the award. Applications for the Disney Award for Amblyopia Research are accepted during the spring cycle, with the deadline for applications set for January 10. Nomination forms must be submitted by December 15, and applications without prior nomination will not be considered. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it is extended to the next business day. The award is not available during the fall cycle, and nomination and application forms for the award will be accessible starting April 2026. Potential applicants should ensure their proposals clearly demonstrate a connection to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, or treatment of amblyopia. The grant aims to support innovative and impactful research that can advance understanding and treatment of this condition, commonly known as "lazy eye," which is a leading cause of monocular vision impairment. For inquiries related to the RPB Grants Program, interested parties can reach out to MariaClaudia Lora-Montano, the Director of Grants Management at RPB, via phone at 646-892-9564 or email at mlora@rpbusa.org. The office is located at 360 Lexington Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10017, and can be contacted at (212) 752-4333. This grant opportunity represents part of RPB's broader mission to prevent blindness by supporting research that can lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. Through initiatives like this, RPB continues to honor the legacy of its esteemed donors and advance the field of ophthalmic research.

Potential applicants should ensure their proposals clearly demonstrate a connection to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, or treatment of amblyopia.