Vitreoretinal Surgery Foundation Research Awards

Vitreoretinal Surgery Foundation Research Awards is a grant from the Vitreoretinal Surgery Foundation that funds early-stage investigators conducting research on macular and retinal diseases. The program supports projects with the potential to advance understanding of retinal conditions and encourages recipients toward careers in retinal research.

Eligible applicants include residents, fellows, medical students, and undergraduates supervised by university-based ophthalmologists, retina specialists, or basic science investigators. Recipients receive $2,000 paid to their institution for project expenses, with up to $1,000 additional for laboratory costs and up to $1,000 in travel funding to present at a national meeting.

Research must conform to institutional approval standards and be completable within 12 months. The application deadline is October 31, 2025.

Research Awards | VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation Research Award The purpose of the VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation Research Award is to support early stage investigators conducting relevant research projects in macular and retinal disease and to encourage a career devoted to retinal disease and research.

Open to residents, fellows, medical students and undergraduates under the supervision of University based ophthalmologists, retina specialists or basic science investigators. Recipients of the VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation Research Award will receive an Award of $2,000 paid to their respected Institution on their behalf for use towards expenses related to the proposed project.

An additional $1,000 will be available for laboratory expenses or other research related expenses (i.e. statistical support, computer hardware/software, purchased services) if needed with submission of receipts. Finally, a travel award of up to $1,000 will be available to cover expenses for presentation of research results at a national meeting and will be paid directly to the Awardee.

The research must have the potential to increase the understanding of macular or retinal disease. The research project should have the potential for presentation at a national ophthalmology meeting or research symposium and for eventual publication in a peer-reviewed ophthalmic medical journal.

Research must conform to accepted standards of conduct (e.g. ARVO Guidelines for Use of Animal in Research) and must have received institutional approval by the appropriate review committees (e.g. Animal Care Committee, Human Institutional Research Review Committee). The research project should be completed within the next 12 months. A Research Progress Report by the Award recipient or supervisor is required by October 31, 2026.

The Award Application Review Committee shall consist of the physician members of the VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation Board of Directors. Board members directly supervising applicants will recuse themselves from deliberation concerning these applications. Award recipients must acknowledge the VitreoRetinal Surgery Foundation using both name and logo on all papers, presentations and abstracts regarding the supported research.

Applicants must disclose other sources of research funding for their proposed project. Application Deadline: October 31, 2025. Please download and e-mail your application to awinkelman@RetinaMN.

com . Please e-mail this progress report to awinkelman@RetinaMN. com .