Fight For Sight || Individual Grant Program Rules and Deadlines

Deadlines

Applications for Fight for Sight individual grants are available at our applications page. Applications must be completed and submitted by the following deadlines:
• For Summer Student Fellowships – FEBRUARY 1, 2008
• For Postdoctoral Fellowships – MARCH 1, 2008
• For Grants-in-Aid – MARCH 1, 2008

All material submitted becomes the property of Fight for Sight. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Selection Process

The Individual Grants Program is administered by the Scientific Review Committee. This volunteer committee, chaired by Randy Kardon, MD, PhD of the University of Iowa, is composed of more than 70 experts, many of whom are alumni, who review applications and recommend the top proposals for funding.

Each applicant is asked to choose the specialty section that would be best qualified to review the research project. The three sections consist of:

Grant-In-Aid

Postdoctoral Fellowship

Summer Student Fellowship

Each proposal is reviewed by at least two experts within the assigned section. Applications for Grants-in-Aid and Postdoctoral Fellowships are ranked at a meeting of the section members.

Final awards are determined by the Fight for Sight Board of Directors based on the recommendations of the Scientific Review Committee.

Notification

Summer Student Fellows are notified by April via email. Postdoctoral Fellows and Grant-in-Aid recipients are notified of their award by June. Within two weeks following notification of the award, a letter of acceptance must be returned to Fight for Sight, signed by the grant recipient, the department chair or sponsor, and administrative officer. The letter includes assurances that all IRB and animal protocol requirements have been met. Recipients are expected to submit a lay description of the research project accompanied by a photo suitable for publication purposes on Fight for Sight’s website and in our newsletters.

Payment

Summer Student Fellowship stipends are made payable to the institution and forwarded to the sponsor in June. These awards should be paid to the student in a manner consistent with the institutional policies, however no fringe benefits or overhead may be charged against this award.

Payments for Grants-in-Aid and Postdoctoral Fellowships are made semi-annually (June and January) to the institution, in care of the Department Chair. Depending on the approved budget, up to 60% may be paid in the first installment. Any equipment purchases budgeted for the first half of the project must be made before the second payment is issued. Changes to the budget require prior approval from Fight for Sight.

Human Research

All applicants proposing to conduct research involving human subjects must obtain appropriate approvals from the Institutional Review Board where the research is to be undertaken before funds will be transferred.

Animal Research

Investigators using animals must adhere to the ARVO resolution concerning the use of animals in research (IOVS 31:781, 1990). Approval date and number must be indicated before funds will be transferred.

Reports & Acknowledgements

An interim progress report is required from all Postdoctoral Fellows and Grant-in-Aid recipients in December. If, for some reason, the fellowship has not commenced, or the project has not started, a report must still be submitted with the reasons for the delay. If the progress report is not received by January 10, Fight for Sight reserves the right to withhold the final payment and terminate the grant.

A final report and financial statement must be submitted by August 1 or within 30 days of the conclusion of the grant. Recipients will receive a reminder and a form to complete prior to the deadline. Institutions may be denied additional grants where, after proper notification, an investigator has not submitted a final report. Unexpended funds must be returned to Fight for Sight.

Summer Students are expected to complete a summary of accomplishments and future plans when their fellowship is completed.

In some cases, a no-cost extension will be granted if the applicant submits a provisional progress report and written request for extension.

Investigators are encouraged to make the results of their research available to the scientific community. All manuscripts, abstracts, posters, reports and other publications resulting from Fight for Sight-supported research must acknowledge that the study was funded (in whole or in part) by Fight for Sight. Copies of the FFS logo are available to be incorporated into posters or slides. Contact Janice Benson, Assistant Director, for a copy of the logo at janice@fightforsight.com.

Relocation & Transfers

Fight for Sight does not permit the transfer of a Postdoctoral or Summer Student Fellowships to other institutions. Fight for Sight should be contacted immediately if a student or fellow will be ineligible or unavailable. Generally, these grants are terminated and the awards returned to FFS.

In some cases, Grants-in-Aid may be relocated if the investigator moves to a new institution. A written request must be submitted with a report of the work accomplished and expenditures to date, co-signed by the department chair and administrative officer. Any unexpended funds must be returned to Fight for Sight. A letter accepting the project by the chair and administrative officer at the new site is required before a check with the balance of the grant is forwarded to that institution.

Termination

A grant may be terminated or cancelled by Fight for Sight upon notice to the grant recipient and the chair at the discretion of Fight for Sight. Termination of a grant may occur: (i) if circumstances prevent completion of the grant or fellowship; (ii) if any member of the research team is found to have committed scientific misconduct or fraud, (iii) if appropriate IRB or administrative approvals have not been secured; or (iv) if Fight for Sight has determined that the recipient has received overlap funding, or that the Fight for Sight grant is not being used for the purposes originally proposed. A report on the work conducted to the date of termination and a financial accounting is required. Any unused funds must be returned with the final expense report.

Contact Information

Should you have questions concerning the electronic grant submission process, please contact the help desk of Manuscript Center at 1-434-817-2040 ext. 167.

For all other questions about the Individual Grant Program, including deadlines, payment and reporting, please contact Janice Benson, Assistant Director by email at janice@fightforsight.com or by phone, (212) 679-6060. Fight for Sight offices are located at 381 Park Avenue South, Suite 809, New York, NY 10016.

Updated January 2007

Related Links Individual Grant Program Main Scientific Review Committee Current Recipients List Donate Now Making a donation to Fight for Sight is easy and quick. How would you like to donate? > Online > Mail a Donation > Donate a Timeshare Applications Looking to fill out an application? Find it here: > FFS / NANOS Related Links Individual Grant Program Current Recipients List Grant Review Committee		Individual Grant Program Guidelines Deadlines Applications for Fight for Sight individual grants are available at our applications page. Applications must be completed and submitted by the following deadlines: • For Summer Student Fellowships – FEBRUARY 1, 2008 • For Postdoctoral Fellowships – MARCH 1, 2008 • For Grants-in-Aid – MARCH 1, 2008 All material submitted becomes the property of Fight for Sight. Late or incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Selection Process The Individual Grants Program is administered by the Scientific Review Committee. This volunteer committee, chaired by Randy Kardon, MD, PhD of the University of Iowa, is composed of more than 70 experts, many of whom are alumni, who review applications and recommend the top proposals for funding. Each applicant is asked to choose the specialty section that would be best qualified to review the research project. The three sections consist of: Grant-In-Aid Postdoctoral Fellowship Summer Student Fellowship Each proposal is reviewed by at least two experts within the assigned section. Applications for Grants-in-Aid and Postdoctoral Fellowships are ranked at a meeting of the section members. Final awards are determined by the Fight for Sight Board of Directors based on the recommendations of the Scientific Review Committee. Notification Summer Student Fellows are notified by April via email. Postdoctoral Fellows and Grant-in-Aid recipients are notified of their award by June. Within two weeks following notification of the award, a letter of acceptance must be returned to Fight for Sight, signed by the grant recipient, the department chair or sponsor, and administrative officer. The letter includes assurances that all IRB and animal protocol requirements have been met. Recipients are expected to submit a lay description of the research project accompanied by a photo suitable for publication purposes on Fight for Sight’s website and in our newsletters. Payment Summer Student Fellowship stipends are made payable to the institution and forwarded to the sponsor in June. These awards should be paid to the student in a manner consistent with the institutional policies, however no fringe benefits or overhead may be charged against this award. Payments for Grants-in-Aid and Postdoctoral Fellowships are made semi-annually (June and January) to the institution, in care of the Department Chair. Depending on the approved budget, up to 60% may be paid in the first installment. Any equipment purchases budgeted for the first half of the project must be made before the second payment is issued. Changes to the budget require prior approval from Fight for Sight. Human Research All applicants proposing to conduct research involving human subjects must obtain appropriate approvals from the Institutional Review Board where the research is to be undertaken before funds will be transferred. Animal Research Investigators using animals must adhere to the ARVO resolution concerning the use of animals in research (IOVS 31:781, 1990). Approval date and number must be indicated before funds will be transferred. Reports & Acknowledgements An interim progress report is required from all Postdoctoral Fellows and Grant-in-Aid recipients in December. If, for some reason, the fellowship has not commenced, or the project has not started, a report must still be submitted with the reasons for the delay. If the progress report is not received by January 10, Fight for Sight reserves the right to withhold the final payment and terminate the grant. A final report and financial statement must be submitted by August 1 or within 30 days of the conclusion of the grant. Recipients will receive a reminder and a form to complete prior to the deadline. Institutions may be denied additional grants where, after proper notification, an investigator has not submitted a final report. Unexpended funds must be returned to Fight for Sight. Summer Students are expected to complete a summary of accomplishments and future plans when their fellowship is completed. In some cases, a no-cost extension will be granted if the applicant submits a provisional progress report and written request for extension. Investigators are encouraged to make the results of their research available to the scientific community. All manuscripts, abstracts, posters, reports and other publications resulting from Fight for Sight-supported research must acknowledge that the study was funded (in whole or in part) by Fight for Sight. Copies of the FFS logo are available to be incorporated into posters or slides. Contact Janice Benson, Assistant Director, for a copy of the logo at janice@fightforsight.com. Relocation & Transfers Fight for Sight does not permit the transfer of a Postdoctoral or Summer Student Fellowships to other institutions. Fight for Sight should be contacted immediately if a student or fellow will be ineligible or unavailable. Generally, these grants are terminated and the awards returned to FFS. In some cases, Grants-in-Aid may be relocated if the investigator moves to a new institution. A written request must be submitted with a report of the work accomplished and expenditures to date, co-signed by the department chair and administrative officer. Any unexpended funds must be returned to Fight for Sight. A letter accepting the project by the chair and administrative officer at the new site is required before a check with the balance of the grant is forwarded to that institution. Termination A grant may be terminated or cancelled by Fight for Sight upon notice to the grant recipient and the chair at the discretion of Fight for Sight. Termination of a grant may occur: (i) if circumstances prevent completion of the grant or fellowship; (ii) if any member of the research team is found to have committed scientific misconduct or fraud, (iii) if appropriate IRB or administrative approvals have not been secured; or (iv) if Fight for Sight has determined that the recipient has received overlap funding, or that the Fight for Sight grant is not being used for the purposes originally proposed. A report on the work conducted to the date of termination and a financial accounting is required. Any unused funds must be returned with the final expense report. Contact Information Should you have questions concerning the electronic grant submission process, please contact the help desk of Manuscript Center at 1-434-817-2040 ext. 167. For all other questions about the Individual Grant Program, including deadlines, payment and reporting, please contact Janice Benson, Assistant Director by email at janice@fightforsight.com or by phone, (212) 679-6060. Fight for Sight offices are located at 381 Park Avenue South, Suite 809, New York, NY 10016. Updated January 2007