RPB International Research Collaborators Award

The RPB International Research Collaborators Award is designed to foster international collaborations that enable researchers in the United States and abroad to acquire new knowledge and skills. These collaborations aim to expedite the development of treatments for blinding disorders, potentially benefiting large populations globally. The award facilitates a reciprocal exchange where a U.S.-based researcher, holding an MD, PhD, MD/PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree, with an appointment ranging from Assistant Professor to full Professor at any U.S. higher education institution, is funded to visit an institution outside the U.S. for a period to gain new insights and strengthen collaborative relationships. In turn, the foreign institution sends a researcher to the U.S. institution. The program allows flexibility in how these exchanges are implemented, with an extended stay in the other country expected for each researcher or a member of their lab. The collaboration should yield synergistic benefits to the researchers and the project, with submissions required to outline specific objectives aimed at gaining new knowledge and strengthening international collaborations. The award offers up to $75,000, with matching funds encouraged but not required. Eligibility is open to researchers from any U.S. higher education institution, with only one nomination per department per school considered. The award seeks to leverage the unique expertise of each researcher, producing a collaborative work product that exceeds the sum of its parts. Applications for the award follow a biannual cycle. The spring cycle application deadline is January 10, with nomination forms due by December 15. The fall cycle application deadline is July 1, with nomination forms due by June 15. If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it is extended to the next business day. Applications submitted without a prior nomination form are not accepted. Nomination and application forms, along with guidelines and instructions, are available through the program. For inquiries regarding the RPB Grants Program, interested parties can contact MariaClaudia Lora-Montano, the Director of Grants Management, at 646-892-9564 or via email at mlora@rpbusa.org. The award aims to create lasting international research partnerships that contribute to advancements in vision science and the treatment of eye diseases. Research to Prevent Blindness, the organization behind this award, is committed to supporting a wide range of vision science research topics, including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and retinal diseases. The organization collaborates with entities like the American Academy of Ophthalmology to enhance patient care through research initiatives. Overall, the RPB International Research Collaborators Award represents a significant opportunity for researchers to engage in meaningful international collaborations that can lead to breakthroughs in the prevention and treatment of blinding disorders.