+ More Filters

Reset Filters

Title

Funding Organization

Funding Type

Eligible Country

Deadline

Other (Select all that apply)

Show Expired Programs

Show Verified Programs

Verified

Expired

RPB Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship

Research to Prevent Blindness

The Medical Student Eye Research Fellowships allow gifted students to take a year off from allopathic medical school and devote time to the pursuit of a research project within an RPB-supported department of ophthalmology. RPB is partnering with The Glaucoma Foundation (TGF) to co-fund one (1) award in glaucoma research, and the other awards will be funded by RPB. We encourage projects that incorporate artificial intelligence and/or data science.

The RPB / TGF (sponsored by Annette Grollman) Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship in Glaucoma Research, will focus on glaucoma research, the medical student applying for this award must be under the mentorship of a glaucoma physician.
The RPB Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship will not have a specific scientific focus and are open to any topic in vision research within an RPB-supported department of ophthalmology. Open to students of allopathic medicine (MD) only.

The fellowship, which must take place prior to the third or fourth year of medical school, will be funded for one year with a $30,000 grant, a portion of which should be utilized to help finance the recipient's eye research activities. Up to an additional $8,000 will be provided for students who must relocate at least one hour away from their medical school location to another school for the fellowship. (Distribution of these additional funds is at the discretion of RPB.) MD/PhD students are not eligible to apply.

The program is neither intended to become a vehicle to assure the candidate a residency, nor used simply to provide technical assistance. The candidate, mentor, and the proposed training program are evaluated in the review process. Mentors should carefully consider the research project and its objectives as well as the role of and outcomes for the medical student within the project, as they will be required to submit this information in the application. Since outcomes are not announced until almost six months after submission, the applicant should be aware of the risk of rejection. Grantee chairs may nominate two (2) candidates per grant review cycle -- one student for the RPB / TGF MSF and one student for the RPB MSF.

Only current RPB-grantee departments of ophthalmology may nominate candidates for the Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship.

The spring cycle application deadline for the Medical Student Fellowship is January 10, with nomination forms due no later than December 15. The fall cycle application deadline is July 1, with nomination forms due no later than June 15. Applications received without a prior nomination form will not be accepted. (If the nomination or application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, please consider the deadline to be the following business day.)

AI Based Application Success Predictor

Key Predictors of RPB Grant Success

Track record of research productivity & strong lab environment
RPB’s Scientific Advisory Panel evaluates departments and investigators based on prior performance, quality of publications, and overall lab infrastructure

Institutional strength & reputation
Unrestricted departmental grants (e.g., $115K awards) are limited to about 30 U.S. institutions yearly, and recipients are chosen for their robust research ecosystems and standout ophthalmology programs .

Career Development Awards (CDAs) leading to follow-on funding
A strategic internal review of the CDA program showed that over ~$40 million in RPB CDA grants secured more than $1 billion in external follow‑on funding—an impressive ~25:1 return ratio .

Alignment with RPB strategic priorities
Grants that target key areas—such as early‑career investigators, data science, diabetic retinal disease, and genetic/retinal research—stand a stronger chance .

Strong mentorship & future leadership potential
With awards like the Tom Wertheimer Career Development Award, RPB places emphasis on early-career independence and mentorship, further enhancing competitiveness .

🪜 Why These Factors Matter

Prior productivity & lab quality → demonstrates capacity for impactful outcomes.

Institutional reputation → ensures resources, collaboration, and infrastructure.

High follow-on funding success → RPB values grants that catalyze broader scientific investment.

Strategic alignment → supports RPB's vision in areas like data science and retinal disease.

Mentorship & career progression → ensures trainees evolve into future leaders of vision research.

✅ Recommendations for Applicants

Focus Area	How to Strengthen Your Application
Publications & Grants	Highlight key papers and previous awards to prove productivity.
Institutional Support	Emphasize your department’s strengths: facilities, collaborators, leadership support.
Career Plan & Mentorship	Present a clear roadmap and strong mentorship letters for CDAs or early-career awards.
Alignment with Priorities	Tailor your proposal to RPB’s current priorities (e.g., diabetic eye disease, AI/data science).
Forward-looking Vision	Articulate potential for future funding and clinical/scientific impact.

👀 Final Thoughts

RPB seeks to underwrite vision research with the highest return on investment—scientifically, clinically, and financially. Emphasizing a strong track record, institutional excellence, alignment with strategic priorities, and demonstrated potential for future funding will markedly elevate grant success chances.

Specialties

Ophthalmology

Eligibility Requirements

We encourage projects that incorporate artificial intelligence and/or data science.

The RPB / TGF (sponsored by Annette Grollman) Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship in Glaucoma Research, will focus on glaucoma research, the medical student applying for this award must be under the mentorship of a glaucoma physician.
The RPB Medical Student Eye Research Fellowship will not have a specific scientific focus and are open to any topic in vision research within an RPB-supported department of ophthalmology. Open to students of allopathic medicine (MD) only.

Sponsor Details

Sponsor Institute/Organizations: Research to Prevent Blindness

Sponsor Type: Corporate/Non-Profit

Address: 360 Lexington Avenue, 22nd Floor New York, NY 10017 (212) 752-4333

Legal & Affiliation Disclaimer

Affiliation Disclaimer: Trialect operates independently and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or supported by any sponsors or organizations posting on the GrantsBoard platform. As an independent aggregator of publicly available funding opportunities, Trialect provides equal access to information for all users without endorsing any specific funding source, content, organization, or sponsor. Trialect assumes no responsibility for the content posted by sponsors or third parties.

Subscription Disclaimer: Upon logging into Trialect, you may choose to SUBSCRIBE to GrantsBoard for timely notifications of funding opportunities and to access exclusive benefits, such as priority alerts, reminders, personalized recommendations, and additional application support. However, users are advised to contact sponsors directly for any questions and are not required to subscribe to engage with funding opportunities.

Content Ownership and Copyright Disclaimer: Trialect respects the intellectual property rights of all organizations and individuals. All content posted on GrantsBoard is provided solely for informational purposes and remains the property of the original owners. Trialect does not claim ownership of, nor does it have any proprietary interest in, content provided by third-party sponsors. Users are encouraged to verify content and ownership directly with the posting sponsor.

Fair Use Disclaimer: The information and content available on GrantsBoard are compiled from publicly accessible sources in alignment with fair use principles under U.S. copyright law. Trialect serves as an aggregator of this content, offering it to users in good faith and with the understanding that it is available for public dissemination. Any organization or individual who believes their intellectual property rights have been violated is encouraged to contact us for prompt resolution.

Third-Party Posting Responsibility Disclaimer: Trialect is a neutral platform that allows third-party sponsors to post funding opportunities for informational purposes only. Sponsors are solely responsible for ensuring that their postings comply with copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Trialect assumes no liability for any copyright or intellectual property infringements in third-party content and will take appropriate action to address any substantiated claims.

Accuracy and Verification Disclaimer: Trialect makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information provided by sponsors. Users are advised to verify the details of any funding opportunity directly with the sponsor before taking action. Trialect cannot be held liable for any discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies in third-party postings.

Notice and Takedown Policy: Trialect is committed to upholding copyright law and protecting the rights of intellectual property owners. If you believe that content on GrantsBoard infringes your copyright or intellectual property rights, please contact us with detailed information about the claim. Upon receipt of a valid notice, Trialect will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, remove or disable access to the infringing content.

View Funding Opportunity