Funder: Florida Department of Health
Due Dates: September 30, 2026, 5 p.m. ET (Questions) | October 2, 2026 (Anticipated Q&A posting) | October 28, 2026, noon ET (Applications)
Funding Amounts: Category maximums of $100,000–$1,500,000, including direct and indirect costs, for 6–48 months
Summary: Supports genetic and epigenetic research advancing prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of inherited eye diseases and ocular cancer.
Key Information: Only Florida-based universities and established research institutes may apply; the PI must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
Description
The Bascom Palmer Eye Institute VisionGen Initiative is a competitive, peer-reviewed research program administered by the Florida Department of Health’s Biomedical Research Section. Established under section 381.922, Florida Statutes, it advances genetic and epigenetic research on inherited eye diseases and ocular cancer. Supported work includes prevention and treatment, screening, obesity, treatment-related morbidities, technology transfer feasibility, and development of Investigational New Drug or Investigational Device Exemption applications.
Priority goes to reducing morbidity and mortality, improving screening accuracy and detection, addressing resistance to front-line treatments in recurrent disease, and examining obesity’s relationship to disease, treatment responsiveness, and treatment-related morbidities. Other responsive research remains eligible but receives lower priority. Ocular cancer research must align with the Florida Cancer Plan.
