Catalyst Awards for Innovative Research Approaches for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

The Catalyst Award for Innovative Research Approaches for Age-Related Macular Degeneration is funded by Research to Prevent Blindness in partnership with the American Macular Degeneration Foundation, Dr. H. James and Carole Free, and the International Retinal Research Foundation. This award supports groundbreaking, high-risk, high-reward research with a strong focus on advancing scientific understanding or therapeutic development for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Up to three awards of $300,000 each will be distributed, with an emphasis on supporting one translational project with clinical relevance. The award is structured to be disbursed in two $150,000 payments over three years. The second payment is contingent upon successful review of a 14-month substantive progress report. Award funds must be fully expended within three years, or within two years if only the first installment is used. No institutional overhead or indirect costs are permitted, and IRB approval is required prior to fund disbursement if applicable. Applicants must be nominated by their department Chair or interim Chair and be full-time faculty at a U.S.-based institution of higher education, with academic rank from Assistant Professor through full Professor. They must dedicate at least 5% of their effort to the project. The research must clearly demonstrate innovation and novelty, and must be directly related to AMD. Projects that are incremental or already funded elsewhere are not eligible. Nomination forms must be submitted by June 15, 2025. Final applications are due by July 1, 2025. All applications must be submitted via the secure portal on the RPB website using the password “Research.” Only one upload per candidate is permitted and must include the signed application form and all supporting documentation in a single PDF, in the specified order. Supporting documents include the NIH-style biosketch, scientific statement, departmental endorsement, research budget and timeline, collaborator information and letters (if applicable), IRB approval, and IRS determination letter. Review emphasis will be on the innovation of the proposed research, institutional support, and the investigator’s prior research background. Questions may be directed to MariaClaudia Lora-Montano at mlora@rpbusa.org or by phone at 646-892-9564.

Submit nomination first; one-time upload; follow format strictly; emphasize novelty and direct AMD focus