For Researchers
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funding opportunities
2026 CATALYST GRANT COMPETITION
Letter of Intent (LOI) Deadline: March 12, 2026, 5pm (EST) – Download Letter of Intent Form
Full Application Deadline: April 23, 2026, 5pm (EST) – Download Application Form | Download Budget Template
More details about the competition and application process can be found in the Competition Guide.
The 2026 Catalyst Grant competition supports innovative research that improves outcomes for people affected by retinal disease (including inherited retinal diseases and age related macular degeneration) and glaucoma.
The program is open to principal investigators based at Canadian institutions with a budget of up to $200,000 over two years per award.
Applications are welcome across a range of research approaches, including discovery, translational, clinical, epidemiological, health systems and vision loss rehabilitation research.
Dedicated funds are available to support exceptional proposals with relevance to choroideremia and retinitis pigmentosa, as outlined in the Competition Guide.
If you have questions or have difficulties with submission, please contact research@fightingblindness.ca.
Past Funding Opportunities
2025 CLINICIAN-SCIENTIST EMERGING LEADER AWARD
THIS COMPETITION IS NOW COMPLETE. LEARN ABOUT THE COMPETITION RESULTS.
Fighting Blindness Canada’s Clinician-Scientist Emerging Leader (CSEL) award supports early-career ophthalmologists and optometrists in Canada who integrate research into their careers. This competition will fund projects with the potential to significantly impact Canadians living with a retinal eye disease including, but not limited to inherited retinal diseases, age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
Applicants can apply for funding at two levels, up to $20,000 or up to $40,000 over two years, dependent on the amount of protected research time they have.
FBC Policies & Positions
Created and Implemented September 17, 2014
Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) has implemented a patent rights policy for FBC-funded research. The policy can be downloaded here: PDF
Created March 22, 2010
Stem cell research holds promise for finding treatments for various retinal dystrophies. Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) is committed to finding treatments for retinal dystrophies and supports stem cell research as per the Assisted Human Reproduction Act (AHRA), which became law in Canada in March 2004. The Act and its framework ensure the consistent and regulated conduct of research, which balances respect for human life and potential for modern science. FBC acknowledges the highly sensitive and ethical issues addressed by the Act concerning embryonic stem cell research, and supports efforts to identify alternative sources for therapeutic applications. FBC respects all points of view on this important topic.
For details about Assisted Human Reproduction in Canada visit www.ahrc-pac.gc.ca.
If you wish not to support embryonic stem cell research, your donation to FBC can be directed to alternative sources for therapeutic applications, such as gene therapy or to education and public awareness.
Created May 2007
Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) does not provide funds for indirect costs associated with research. While FBC recognizes that these are indeed legitimate expenditures, we believe the funding of such costs is the responsibility of governments and/or research institutions – not donors.
Fighting Blindness Canada is a member in good standing of the Health Charities Coalition of Canada (HCCC). All HCCC members abide by this funding policy. See the HCCC position statement on indirect costs.
2025 CLINICIAN-SCIENTIST EMERGING LEADER AWARD
Registration Deadline: April 24, 2025, 5 p.m. EST – Download Registration of Interest Form.
Full Application Deadline: June 5, 2025, 5 p.m. EST – Download Application Form.
More details about the competition and application process can be found in the Competition Guide.
Fighting Blindness Canada’s Clinician-Scientist Emerging Leader (CSEL) award supports early-career ophthalmologists and optometrists in Canada who integrate research into their careers. This competition will fund projects with the potential to significantly impact Canadians living with a retinal eye disease including, but not limited to inherited retinal diseases, age related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma.
Applicants can apply for funding at two levels, up to $20,000 or up to $40,000 over two years, dependent on the amount of protected research time they have.THIS COMPETITION IS NOW COMPLETE. LEARN ABOUT THE COMPETITION RESULTS.If you have questions or have difficulties with submission, please contact research@fightingblindness.ca
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