RPB Stein Innovation Awards
The RPB Stein Innovation Awards fund groundbreaking, unconventional vision science research projects that advance understanding of the visual system and vision-related diseases.
Funder: Research to Prevent Blindness
Due Dates (Anticipated): December 2026 (Nomination form, January cycle) | January 2027 (Full application, January cycle) | June 2027 (Nomination form, July cycle) | July 2027 (Full application, July cycle)
Funding Amounts: $300,000 total per award, paid in two installments over up to three years; second payment contingent on mid-term progress review.
Summary: Supports high-risk, innovative vision research that sparks new directions and is unlikely to receive traditional federal funding.
Description
The Stein Innovation Awards from Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) are designed to catalyze new, high-risk/high-gain research in vision science. These awards support original, out-of-the-box projects that advance understanding of the visual system and diseases affecting vision, particularly those that would not typically receive federal funding due to their unconventional or novel approaches. The program encourages applications that represent a clear departure from the applicant's existing research, aiming to spark new lines of inquiry in vision research.
