Today, in the UK, just 1.2% of publicly funded medical research is dedicated to vision loss research. Yet, 250 people each day hear the devastating news that they will lose their sight – one every six minutes.
Fight for Sight’s role as a funder of scientific research is critical.
We’re funding research that helps us to better understand, diagnose, prevent and treat vision loss.
The grants we award lead to big breakthroughs, support researchers throughout their careers and bring people together to share knowledge and insights.
It’s accelerating progress to stop sight loss.
Likewise, we know that people who are blind and vision impaired are often unable to access vital services because of a landscape of underfunded and inconsistent provision.
Only one in four who are working age are in employment, and a staggering 75% experience loneliness and isolation; plus, there is an almost universal experience of anxiety.
We expect more: a world where everyone has the same opportunities, regardless of vision loss.
Across our programmes, we fund projects that:
- Discover new insights, test hypotheses and approach old problems in a new way
- Build the careers of talented vision researchers and services that are resilient and scalable
- Connect people and resources for transformative change.
Discover. Build. Connect.
As chairs of the expert panels that assess grant applicants and recommend the best projects to fund, it’s our privilege to watch the awards we fund turn into progress that directly benefits people living with vision loss.
We couldn’t do it without our supporters, and we’re delighted to share some real-world examples and success stories with you.
But we can, and we must, do more.
There are always more excellent and potentially transformational projects than we’re able to fund,nwhich means we often have very tough choices to make.
With your continued support, we can accelerate breakthroughs and transform life for people impacted by vision loss.
- David Clarke, Chair, Social Grants Assessment Panel; and Prof. Jessica Teeling, Chair, Research Grants Assessment Panel
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