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Application Process
The deadline for online receipt of applications is February 15, 2010 for Summer Student Fellowships and March 1, 2010 for Post-Doctoral Awards and Grants-in-Aid. Summer Student Fellowship applicants are generally notified before the annual conference of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) held in spring. Post-Doctoral Awards and Grants-in-Aid recipients are generally notified by May 15.
It is the responsibility of each applicant to ensure all supporting documents and materials, required signatures and institutional approval are received by the application deadline. Only one application for each type of award will be accepted from a sponsor or individual laboratory. All submitted materials and applications become the property of Fight for Sight. Applications are created and submitted on-line through the FFS link at Manuscript Central, a division of ScholarOne.
Further information about the application process and detailed instructions can be found here.
Acceptance and Conditions of Award
Within two weeks of notification of an award, the recipient must forward a letter of acceptance to Fight for Sight countersigned by the applicant’s department head and institutional administrative officer. FFS must be notified immediately if the investigator receives funds from another source in support of his/her research project. In this event, FFS reserves the right to withdraw funding.
Human Research
All applicants proposing research with human subjects must indicate that approval was obtained or is pending from the relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB). No awards will be made without prior, verified approval from the institutional IRB.
Animal Research
Investigators utilizing animals must adhere to the most recently published ARVO guidelines for the design and conduct of experiments in ophthalmic and visual research. Verification of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval is required before any award is made.
Disbursements
Post-Doctoral Awards and Grants-in-Aid are made semi-annually while Summer Student Fellowships are payable in one lump sum. Payments may be made in care of the administrative officer of the sponsoring department. No overhead, fringe benefits or indirect costs are provided with any Fight for Sight award.
Lay summary
A 250 word summary of the proposed research, suitable for a non-technical lay audience, must be submitted prior to receipt of any award. In addition, at the completion of the research project, a 300 word summary of research findings and clinical impact, again suitable for a non-technical audience, must be submitted.
Manuscripts and Acknowledgments
All manuscripts, papers, book chapters, reports, posters, presentations and awards resulting from FFS support must acknowledge, in writing, that the study was funded, in whole or in part, by Fight for Sight. If a specific named award is utilized, the investigator will be notified as to the appropriate acknowledgements.
It is the responsibility of each investigator to notify FFS in a timely manner of any manuscripts, papers, book chapters, reports, posters, presentations and awards, with relevant citations, where appropriate.
Photographs
All successful applicants are required to forward a digital photograph of themselves and, for post-doctoral awards and summer student fellowships, a photograph of themselves with their sponsor or mentor, for possible use in Fight for Sight promotional materials and reports. All photographs and rights therein, become the property of FFS.
Patents
When applying for a patent, all awardees are required to notify and consult with FFS and its legal counsel, and to be bound by FFS’s determination as to the eventual disposition of the patent, in those instances when such patent arises from FFS funded research.
Final Report
A final technical report for the research project, including a detailed list of expenditures, must be submitted within 60 days of the conclusion of the award period. A refund of any unexpended funds is required.
Extensions and/or Budget Changes
Extension of time to complete a project may be permitted in rare extenuating circumstances when written permission is requested in advance. A letter detailing research findings to date, expenditures, additional time required and detailed reasons for the request should be submitted and countersigned by the relevant departmental or division head.
Relocation
Grants-in-Aid recipients may apply to transfer their grant to a new institution if they relocate during the award period. As a general policy, FFS does not permit transfer of Summer Student Fellowships or Post-Doctoral Awards if an awardee moves to a new institution. FFS may consider transfer of such an award when and only if the mentor or sponsor moves to a new institution. Approval of all transfers is dependent on written request by the applicant co-signed by the sponsor, departmental director and/or institutional representative of the new institution.
Termination
If circumstances prevent the completion of an award term, FFS must be notified immediately and a report on any work completed to date must be submitted. Any unused portion of research funding must be returned with a final report.
Renewals
Although funding is limited, additional support may, in rare circumstances, be provided where significant and clinically relevant research results have been obtained.
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