Overview:

The McPherson ERI is offering one $50,000 award to advance research on either glaucoma or optic neuropathies. To be considered for this award, you must (i) be a McPherson ERI member at UW–Madison and (ii) be faculty, a permanent principal investigator, or have limited PI status (see complete eligibility criteria here).

Winners can expect to receive their award approximately 3 months after the application deadline, and must use their award within 12 months of receipt (unless a one year no cost extension is granted). The proposed project must not be funded through any other internal or external grant mechanism up until the time that it is awarded. Award funds cannot be used for tuition remission or for meeting/conference attendance.

Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible to receive a Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathies Research Award, you must…

• …be a McPherson ERI member at UW-Madison.

• …be faculty, a permanent principal investigator, or have limited PI status.

• …be proposing a project that has not been (and will not be) funded through any other internal or external grant mechanism before the time your Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathies Research Award is issued (thereafter, outside grant applications that utilize data obtained with Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathies Research Award funds are highly encouraged).

• …plan to use the award within one year of the month that you received it. Funds remaining one year after issuance of the award will be retained by the Institute unless a one-year no cost extension is granted.

Submission Guidelines:

To apply for the Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathies Research Award you will need to…

1. Complete the fillable application form (which requires a brief lay abstract and budget statement) using single-spaced text, Arial font no smaller than 11 point, and page margins of 0.5 inches. The form must be signed by the principal investigator. For the budget statement, in a few sentences outline how you will use the funds—up to $50,000—to advance your project over the one-year award period. Use can include personnel salary, but not tuition remission. Other possible allocations include, but are not limited to, equipment, supplies, reagents, core facility costs, etc. Travel can only be included if critical to conduct the research. Do not include travel to attend meetings or conferences.

3. Complete the provided compliance form, indicating use/non-use of human or animal subjects, human stem cells, and coverage under a biosafety protocol. (This form is included in the application form file.)

4. In a separate document, create the following using single-spaced text, Arial font no smaller than 11 point, and page margins of 0.5 inches:

A. A brief research proposal in language that a person outside your field could understand, including text and figures (latter not required). Your research proposal must not exceed FOUR pages and should include the following sections:

• Background/Rationale

• Significance/Innovation

• Specific Aims

• Research Plan and Methods

• Anticipated Results

B. A list of references cited, immediately following the research proposal, beginning on a separate page (no page limit)

5. Provide your NIH- or NSF-style biosketch.

6. Combine all of your files into a SINGLE PDF FILE in the order listed above.

NOTE: In your abstract and your research proposal, whenever possible use LAY LANGUAGE. Avoid using jargon, acronyms, and technical terms that assume common expertise. The review panel is comprised of researchers from several different scientific fields, including psychology, biology, pathology, veterinary medicine, computer science, biostatistics and medical informatics, engineering, ophthalmology and visual sciences, and many others. Referencing the research work you describe in your abstract, make it clear and understandable for readers who are not experts in your area, explaining how/why the work is important in a vision-related context. Your ability to make your work accessible and understandable by a general audience is a key factor in the judging process.

All materials should be submitted as a single pdf to Dr. Jonathan Lang (jonathanlang@wisc.edu). When submitting, format your email subject line as follows: Glaucoma and Optic Neuropathies Award Application: [your last name], [your first name]