RPB Physician-Scientist Award

The RPB Physician-Scientist Award is a funding opportunity provided by Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) to support the research endeavors of clinicians in the field of vision research. This award is designed to promote both clinical and basic science research conducted by clinicians, with a particular focus on understanding and preventing myopia, as well as other topics within vision research. The award offers a total of $300,000, which is distributed in two payments of $150,000 each. The second payment is contingent upon the approval of a substantive progress report submitted after 14 months. The RPB Physician-Scientist Award is divided into two categories. The first category, the RPB Physician-Scientist Award in Myopia Research, specifically targets research aimed at better understanding the development of myopia and strategies for its prevention or deceleration. This focus is particularly relevant given the increasing prevalence of myopia worldwide, which is projected to affect 50% of the global population by 2050. The second category of the award does not have a specific scientific focus and is open to any topic within the broader field of vision research. Eligibility for the RPB Physician-Scientist Award is limited to MDs or MD/PhDs who hold primary appointments as Assistant Professors or Associate Professors in ophthalmology departments. PhDs without an MD are not eligible to apply. Candidates must devote at least 25% of their time to research and at least 20% to clinical activities. While having R01 funding is not a requirement, it is viewed favorably during the selection process. The award must be expended within three years if the full amount is granted, or within two years if only the initial $150,000 is awarded. Only departments of ophthalmology that are current RPB grantees are eligible to nominate candidates for this award. Each department chair may nominate up to two candidates, one for each award category. The application process requires a nomination form, which must be submitted by June 15 for the fall cycle, with the final application deadline on July 1. Applications submitted without a prior nomination form will not be considered. It is important to note that this award is not available during the spring cycle. For any questions regarding the RPB Grants Program, interested parties can contact MariaClaudia Lora-Montano, the Director of Grants Management at RPB, via phone at 646-892-9564 or email at mlora@rpbusa.org. The RPB headquarters is located at 360 Lexington Avenue, 22nd Floor, New York, NY 10017, and can be reached at (212) 752-4333. The RPB Physician-Scientist Award represents a significant opportunity for eligible clinicians to advance their research in vision science, with the potential to make impactful contributions to the understanding and treatment of eye diseases. The structured nomination and application process ensures that only qualified candidates are considered, fostering high-quality research in the field.