Our Small Grants award delivers lasting impact to people living with vision loss.
It is for researchers who are looking to collect preliminary and pilot data to strengthen research ideas when developing larger follow-on funding applications.
It makes a huge difference to recipients and to vision loss research.
This year, we’ve partnered with five organisations and funded another four independently.
How do the eye movement and focus systems work together?
Dr Ravi Purohit, Oxford University Hospitals:
Clarity and stable vision come from our eye focusing system, and when the eye movement system works together and in sync.
Disruption to the coordination between these systems can lead to blurred vision, eye strain and strabismus (squinting), as is the case in amblyopia. The tools for measuring movement and focusing both use infrared, which means they can't be used together reliably.
A new machine for eye measurement
Dr Purohit aims to build and test a specialised machine that can test both eye systems simultaneously.
He will use a custom-built visible light focus tracker with a standard high-speed eye tracker. If successful, it could pave the way for new research that will eventually provide a roadmap for developing better treatments.
It could also help us understand why some therapies fail and how we can design new ones to achieve a stable vision for patients.
We have awarded the grant in partnership with BIOS, the British and Irish Orthoptic Society, the professional body for orthoptists.
“Of all the funding I’ve received, the small £10,000 grant at the beginning was probably the most impactful.”
How can we better understand infantile nystagmus?
Dr Katherine Ward, Cardiff University: Nystagmus
Dr Ward will seek to better understand infantile nystagmus. When people with typical vision focus on something, their eyes never remain completely still. They make tiny, constant movements that help the brain see more clearly. These movements are natural, helpful, and adjust depending on what we are looking at.
People with infantile nystagmus (IN) experience much larger, more noticeable eye movements. New research suggests these eye movements may be the brain’s way of making the best use of vision when vision is affected from birth. So, Dr Ward’s study will investigate whether infantile nystagmus is an adaptation to low vision.
We have awarded the grant in partnership with Nystagmus Network, which supports people living with nystagmus.
Sue Ricketts, Executive Information and Development Manager, Nystagmus Network, said:
"Since 2015, Fight for Sight and the Nystagmus Network have together funded a wide range of nystagmus research projects, both small projects and larger ones, working together to identify new work which has maximum impact on our community and the patient experience.
In that time, we’ve seen researchers progress from early concepts to in-depth research into nystagmus."
"We’ve seen researchers progress from early concepts to in-depth research into nystagmus."
What are the causes of genetic or childhood glaucoma?
Prof. Mariya Moosajee, University College London: Primary Congenital Glaucoma
The small grant awarded to Prof. Mariya Moosajee will enable her to advance our understanding of the underlying genetic causes of primary congenital glaucoma.
Primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) is a severe form of raised pressure in the eye and can cause blindness from a young age. PCG usually affects 1 in 10,000 children; however, in certain populations, it can occur even more frequently.
Caused by the eye not developing properly in the womb due to changes in the genetic code, the result is the eye being unable to drain fluid. This causes pressure to build up, which can lead to permanent vision damage.
Prof. Moosajee will use cutting-edge genetic sequencing or long-read sequencing (a technique that lets researchers read longer fragments of DNA) to examine samples from patients with childhood glaucoma.
We have awarded the grant in partnership with Glaucoma UK, which supports people living with glaucoma.
Joanna Hodgkinson, Head of Research, Glaucoma UK, said:
“It’s a pleasure to collaborate with Fight for Sight regarding glaucoma research, including joint funding small grants over many years. Fight for Sight’s breadth of focus across eye research and Glaucoma UK’s depth of expertise means we can support the most promising projects, which are likely to save the sight and improve the lives of people living with glaucoma.”
Fight for Sight Presents, predicting childhood sight loss with Lola Solebo and Elizabeth Maxwell.
“It’s a pleasure to collaborate with Fight for Sight regarding glaucoma research, including joint funding small grants over many years.”
How can we identify corneal dystrophy before symptoms occur?
Dr Siyin Liu, University College London: Corneal Dystrophy
Dr Liu’s study aims to detect early signs of Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy (FECD). Dr Liu will look for biomarkers – signs of disease – in the body to help us spot the disease before people display symptoms.
Pronounced ‘fewks’, Fuchs’ dystrophy can sometimes be inherited, meaning it may be passed down from parents to their children. However, it can also develop in people with no known family history of the condition.
The condition is a common cause of cataracts.
Dr Liu will use genetic testing, advanced eye scans and will explore whole genome data from NIHR BioResource using specialist software that supports the exploration of rare genetic diseases.
Genetic testing and scanning could help spot the disease before symptoms even occur, help tailor treatment to personal risk, create measures to test new treatments for clinical trials and could be used before cataract surgery to prevent avoidable corneal damage.
We have awarded the grant in partnership with Bowman Club, which is for ophthalmologists undertaking research on the cornea and ocular surface diseases.
Frank Larkin, Bowman Club, said: “There are talented researchers and researchers-to-be around the country who are interested in the problems caused by corneal and external eye diseases in our patients."
He added: "The Fight for Sight Small Grant awards are an excellent way to support pilot projects, which if successful generate preliminary or proof-of-principle results for subsequent larger applications to Fight for Sight or a larger funding body. It is for this reason that the Bowman Club, the organisation of UK cornea & external disease specialists, part-funds these awards.
We are grateful to Fight for Sight for support of our joint awards to date and look forward to continuing our collaboration in 2026 and beyond.”
Discover more about Fuch’s dystrophy in our A to Z
"The Fight for Sight Small Grant awards are an excellent way to support pilot projects, which if successful generate preliminary or proof-of-principle results for subsequent larger applications."
Can we improving eye testing for children living with Stargardt disease?
Dr Ana Rodriguez-Martinez, University College London, Stargardt Disease
Dr Rodriguez-Martinez's study aims to evaluate and validate child-friendly iPad-based visual function tests in patients with Stargardt disease.
Caused by a fault in the ABCA4 gene, which is involved in the removal of toxic by-products from the retina, Stargardt disease causes blurry vision to begin with and eventually progresses to loss of central vision, causing severe sight loss.
Symptoms typically start in late childhood or adolescence, so establishing these child-friendly iPad tests as a viable way to test for Stargardt disease could improve evaluation of the condition and improve the efficacy of treatment as well as accelerate access to therapies.
We have awarded Dr Rodriguez-Martinez the grant in partnership with Stargardt’s Connected, which exists to raise awareness, provide support, inform about the latest research, and advance progress toward a cure.
Bhavna Tailor, CEO Stargardt's Connected, said: "By partnering with Fight for Sight for the Small Grant Awards, we can fund high-quality research and be confident that the funds we raise are making the greatest possible impact. Working collaboratively allows us to connect with dedicated researchers, and help with accelerating progress towards better understanding and future treatments for Stargardt’s."
"By partnering with Fight for Sight for the Small Grant Awards, we can fund high-quality research and be confident that the funds we raise are making the greatest possible impact."
Our independently awarded grants
How can we reduce invasive monitoring in children with hydrocephalus shunts?
Dr. Sohaib Rufai, University of Leicester: portable OCT scans on children
Around 1 in 1000 children globally are affected by a condition called hydrocephalus, a buildup of excess fluid in the brain. Treatment is quite invasive and involves inserting a tube (a shunt) to divert fluid from the brain to the abdomen.
Unfortunately, these shunts can malfunction and cause damage to the brain and vision. To detect whether a shunt is malfunctioning, children must be admitted to hospital for invasive monitoring.
OCT scans (optical coherence tomography) are 3D eye scans that give highly detailed images of the optic nerve. For children, they could offer a quicker and less invasive alternative to current tests.
Dr Rufai’s study will explore whether portable OCT scanners can be used effectively in children with hydrocephalus shunts. He will also investigate whether these scans can detect raised brain pressure and track improvements after surgery.
If successful, the study will pave the way for further research into the use of OCT in hydrocephalus. Over time, this could help establish clear national and international guidelines for using portable OCT scans to support children with the condition.
How can we bridge the knowledge gap between stimulation and input in prosthetics?
Dr Patrick Degenaar, University of Newcastle
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. It damages the optic nerve, which carries visual information from the eye to the brain. Because of this damage, many retinal implants are unable to restore vision for people with advanced glaucoma.
Visual brain prosthetics offer a solution to patients with near-complete blindness, which is where Dr Degenaar’s study comes in.
Dr Deganaar aims to bridge the knowledge gap regarding optimal stimulation for visual brain prosthetics by investigating whether stimulation and the reduction of input from damaged systems can improve vision in biological experiments.
Closing this gap is key to unlocking the real potential of visual-brain devices. For people with glaucoma or little to no sight, that could mean better everyday vision, greater independence, and a higher quality of life, bringing truly usable treatments within reach.
Can we use tears to monitor Ocular Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (OMPP)
Dr Thomas Tull, Kings College London
Ocular Mucous Membrane Pemphigoid (OMPP) is a rare, long-term inflammatory eye condition that can lead to blindness if not treated. It is part of a group of autoimmune diseases, meaning the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. While OMPP mainly affects the eyes, it can also involve other parts of the body.
OMPP is caused by antibodies in the blood that attach to tissues in the body, including the eyes and airways, triggering inflammation and damage. Because its symptoms are similar to other conditions, OMPP can be difficult to diagnose. Diagnosis usually relies on eye biopsies and blood tests, which are not always reliable. As a result, many patients have to travel to specialist centres to get a confirmed diagnosis.
Dr Tull’s study aims to measure antibody levels in tears, saliva and blood to see whether specific antibodies are linked to OMPP. He will also explore whether these antibody levels reflect how the disease progresses, and whether they could be used to help monitor the condition over time.
Could traditional medicinal plants can help regenerate the optic nerve?
Dr Sohaib Rufai, University of Leicester: portable OCT scans on children
Damage to the optic nerve from glaucoma or injury can often cause permanent vision loss as the nerve cells (retinal ganglion cells) cannot regenerate. Current therapies only slow damage, they do not restore vision which is why new treatments that protect nerve cells and promote repair are urgently needed. Dr. Wam will be exploring whether a traditional medicinal plant (Schisandra chinensis) known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can help protect and regenerate the optic nerve.
The results of this project will deepen our understanding of how to reverse vision loss caused by optic nerve damage and could pave the way for new treatments that restore sight-loss in glaucoma and traumatic vision loss.
Repairing damage caused by glaucoma with Professor Keith Martin
Could you be a small grant recipient?
If you have research idea that you need to collect pilot data for, please visit this page for more information and guidance.
The funding call for the next round of applications has closed but will open again later in the year.
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