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Grant Accelerator Program (GAP) is a grant from the McPherson Eye Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that funds vision research projects by MERI member faculty. Supported by the Alice McPherson Endowment Fund for the Visual Sciences, the Van Vreede McPherson ERI Greatest Needs Fund, and the Robert A. Brandt Macular Degeneration Fund, GAP provides seed funding to catalyze competitive external grant applications.
The 2026-2027 application period opens August 28, 2026. Eligible applicants are MERI members at UW-Madison with vision science research projects.
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Awards – McPherson Eye Research Institute – UW–Madison U niversity of W isconsin –Madison Grant Accelerator Program (GAP) Awards Supported by the Alice McPherson Endowment Fund for the Visual Sciences, the Van Vreede McPherson ERI Greatest Needs Fund, the Robert A.
Brandt Macular Degeneration Fund, and additional donors to the McPherson ERI Application period opens: Friday, August 28th, 2026 Application deadline: Friday, November 13th, 2026 at 11:59pm CST Award amount: $50,000 each Applications reviewed by the GAP Review Committee Mid-November: Submissions close December: Finalists are notified Early January: Finalists deliver proposal talks to the MERI Leadership Committee Early February: Winners announced Downloadable Application Form ( currently inactive ) The McPherson ERI is offering up to six $50,000 awards to support a broad range of vision research, as well as one additional $50,000 Robert A.
Brandt AMD GAP Award specifically designated for research in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), for a total of up to $350,000 in pilot project funds. To be considered for this award, you must (i) be a McPherson member at UW-Madison and (ii) be faculty, permanent principal investigators, or have limited PI status (see complete eligibility criteria here ).
All categories of eye and vision research conducted by UW–Madison McPherson ERI members are eligible for consideration of non-designated GAP awards . This includes not only ocular biology research, but also research on visual communication/cognition/perception, data visualization, bioinformatics, computer vision, imaging techniques for the visual system, and assistive technologies.
Winners can expect to receive their award approximately 2. 5 months after the application deadline, and must use their award within 12 months of receipt (unless a one year no cost extension is granted). Overlap in budget line items from any other internal or external grant mechanism is not allowed during the award period, but other support can be used to complement the proposed activities on this project.
If budgetary overlap occurs after the project is awarded, the investigator must report it promptly to the McPherson ERI Center Administrator. Award funds cannot be used for meeting or conference attendance. Eligibility Requirements: To be eligible to receive a Grant Acceleration Program Award, you must… • …be a McPherson ERI member at UW-Madison.
• …be faculty, a permanent principal investigator, or have limited PI status. • …be proposing a project where there is no overlap in budget line items from any other internal or external grant mechanism during the award period (although other support can be used to complement the proposed activities on this project).
If budgetary overlap occurs after the project is awarded, the investigator must report it promptly to the McPherson ERI Center Administrator. Of note, submission of outside grant applications that utilize data obtained with GAP Award funds is highly encouraged. • …plan to use the award within one year of the month that you received it .
Funds remaining one year after issuance of the award will be retained by the Institute unless a one-year no cost extension is granted . • …not have received a GAP award in the previous academic year. To apply for a Grant Acceleration Program Award you will need to… 1.
Check the appropriate box on the fillable application form to indicate whether you are also eligible for the AMD GAP award. 2. Complete the fillable application form (which requires a brief lay abstract and budget statement) using single-spaced text, Arial font no smaller than 11 point, and page margins of 0.
5 inches. The form must be signed by the principal investigator. For the budget statement, in a few sentences outline how you will use the funds—up to $50,000—to advance your project over the one-year award period.
Use can include personnel salary and other allocations including, but not limited to, equipment, supplies, reagents, core facility costs, etc. Travel can only be included if critical to conduct the research . Do not include travel to attend meetings or conferences. 3.
Complete the provided compliance form , indicating use/non-use of human or animal subjects, human stem cells, and coverage under a biosafety protocol. 4. In a separate document , create the following using single-spaced text, Arial font no smaller than 11 point, and page margins of 0.
5 inches: A. A brief research proposal in language that a person outside your field could understand , including text and figures (latter not required). Your research proposal must not exceed FOUR pages and should include the following sections: • Significance/Innovation • Research Plan and Methods • Potential for future funding from external grant agencies.
B. A list of references cited , immediately following the research proposal, beginning on a separate page (no page limit) 5. Provide your NIH- or NSF-style biosketch.
6. Combine all of your files into a SINGLE PDF FILE in the order listed above. NOTE: In your abstract and your research proposal, whenever possible use LAY LANGUAGE.
Avoid using jargon, acronyms, and technical terms that assume common expertise. The review panel is of researchers from several different scientific fields, including psychology, neuroscience, computer science, medical genetics, human development and family studies, biostatistics and medical informatics, engineering, ophthalmology and visual sciences, and many others.
Make sure you convey the purpose and importance of your research project so that a researcher from any school, college, or department can fully understand it. Your ability to make your work accessible and understandable by a general audience is a key factor in the judging process. All materials should be submitted as a single pdf to Dr. Jonathan Lang ( jonathanlang@wisc.
edu ). When submitting, format your email subject line as follows: GAP Award Application: [your last name], [your first name]
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: MERI members at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Varies Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
AMD GAP Award (Grant Accelerator Program) is a grant from the McPherson Eye Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that provides $50,000 to support eye and vision research projects with strong potential for external funding. Supported by multiple endowment funds including the Alice McPherson Endowment Fund for the Visual Sciences, the award is intended to generate preliminary data and strengthen grant applications to federal agencies and private foundations. The application period opens August 28, 2026, with a deadline of November 13, 2026. Eligible applicants are McPherson ERI members at UW-Madison who hold faculty, permanent principal investigator, or limited PI status.
AMD/RP Awards is a grant from the McPherson Eye Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that funds vision science research focused on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Awards are $50,000 each, supported by the Roger and Lynn Van Vreede endowment and the Robert A. Brandt Macular Degeneration Fund. Applications are reviewed by a scientific advisory committee of MERI members. Eligible applicants are MERI members at UW-Madison. The application period typically opens in late August or early September.