Supported by the Alice McPherson Endowment Fund for the Visual Sciences, the Van Vreede McPherson ERI Greatest Needs Fund, the Robert A. Brandt Macular Degeneration Fund, and additional donors to the McPherson ERI
Application period opens: Friday, August 28th, 2026
Application deadline: Friday, November 13th 2026 at 12:00 pm CST
Award amount: $50,000 each
Applications reviewed by the GAP Review Committee
General Timeline
Mid-November: Submissions close
December: Finalists are notified
Early January: Finalists deliver proposal talks to the MERI Leadership Committee
Early February: Winners announced