As part of our mission to stop sight loss through groundbreaking science, we deliberately fund the early-stage research that makes breakthroughs possible. It’s the base from which all further research progresses.
Our research strategy focuses on supporting people at all stages of sight loss: understanding how eye conditions start, preventing them from happening, diagnosing vision loss sooner and finding new treatments.
We have several grant types with project grants being the largest, where we award up to £250,000 across three years. Project grants are for those proposing clinical or non-clinical stand-alone research projects that aim to address sight loss caused by any eye condition. Applications are assessed by two external panels. The Research Grants Assessment Panel who have a broad range of research and clinical expertise. This panel makes recommendations to the Social Impact and Scientific Research Committee.
This year’s Fight for Sight grant recipients
Professor Michael Cheetham, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
What Professor Cheetham is researching: Developing therapies for severe forms of rhodopsin retinitis pigmentosa
Inherited genetic changes are a major cause of blindness in the working-age population. These eye conditions can be passed on from one or both parents. When passed on from just one parent, it is called dominant disease (meaning one copy of the changed gene is enough to cause disease).
Thodopsin gene (RHO), makes a light-sensitive protein needed for vision in the dark. Changes in RHO are the most common cause of dominant inherited blindness. Night vision is lost first, followed by gradual loss of daytime vision.
Here’s what Professor Cheetham’s doing about it
The most common RHO change in the UK causes a severe, fast-progressing form of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). This change, called P347L, is a small “spelling mistake” in the gene that alters the protein.
This project will investigate how this causes disease and test potential therapies.
This work could lead to treatments for people who have no other options. Testing in mouse and humananised models may speed up progress to clinical trials.
Recent patient studies have improved understanding of disease progression and trial design. If successful and funded, a clinical trial could begin within 3–5 years after the project ends.
Dr Judith Lechner, Queen’s University Belfast
What Dr Lechner is researching: Understanding the role of the protein ‘EPCR’ in the Development of Ischaemic Retinopathies
In many eye conditions, blood vessels can become damaged and are unable to supply the retina with the high levels of oxygen it requires. The retina is responsible for vision and so when blood vessels are lost this can lead to blindness.
Retinal vascular diseases affect patients of all ages. For example, babies born very early often suffer retinopathy of prematurity and this can lead to blindness. In adults, small blood vessels in the retina are blocked leading to occlusive disease which patients with diabetes often suffer (diabetic retinopathy). Current treatments are only relevant once vision loss has started and after blood vessels are already damaged. There is a clinical need for therapies to repair blood vessels at earlier stages to save sight sooner.
Here’s what Dr Lechner’s doing about it
Step in Dr Lechner who’s approach is to develop therapies which can be given to patients before severe damage occurs, this could well prevent vision loss in people with vascular eye problems before they escalate.
Based on Dr Lechner’s recent research, we know that a specific protein, 'EPCR', is very important for repairing blood vessels. Targeting this protein may be a new treatment option.
What’s been achieved so far with Fight for Sight’s project grants
This is what has been achieved with a project grant awarded in 2021.
Approximately 1 in 3 people in the United Kingdom suffer from myopia, and the condition increases the risk of a number of serious eye conditions.
Research funded by Fight for Sight and undertaken by Professor Jeremy Guggenheim developed a genetic test to reveal children who are at increased risk of developing myopia (shortsightedness).
Myopia most often develops during school age, with the highest incidence in countries with intensive education systems.
Genetics, insufficient time spent outdoors, and years spent in education are risk factors for myopia.
Early detection through a test is vital because treatments can delay the onset of the condition or slow its rate of progression during childhood through tailored interventions (such as lifestyle factors, close monitoring), reducing the chances of myopic macular degeneration and associated sight-threatening eye conditions.
We’re proud to support groundbreaking research and you can be a part of it. Get the latest scientific breakthroughs straight to your inbox with our monthly newsletter.
Related content
