Program Description
The Eye Bank Association of America awards the EBAA Pilot Research Grant annually. These awards are intended to provide support for proposals specifically concerned with issues directly related to eye banking and/or corneal transplantation. Preference is given to pilot projects, well-defined short-term protocols, and initial studies directed toward new research initiatives.
Deadline
Deadline: March 2, 2026
Award Amount
Each proposal may be funded up to $7,500.
Criteria/Guidelines
- Eligible applicants include:
- Physicians, including corneal surgeons and other eye care specialists
- Basic scientists, including biomedical and social scientists
- Eye-bank technicians, nurses, postgraduate fellows, ophthalmology residents, and medical students who are supervised by a physician or basic scientist associated with an eye bank or academic institution
- The proposed research must be relevant to the mission of the Eye Bank Association of America.
- Applicants must provide assurance that research protocols comply with appropriate ethical guidelines for the use of experimental animals and human subjects.
- The proposed project is not currently being funded by another granting agency.
- Proposed budgets must adhere to the following:
- Total budget must be limited to $7,500 per project per year.
- Travel, indirect costs, and salary support for the principal investigator must not be included in the budget costs.
- Financial support is provided for consumable supplies and equipment necessary for the proposed investigation. No more than 50% of the funds, not to exceed $3,750, may be used for major equipment purchases.
- Only completed applications will be considered.
- Limit of 2 applications per Principal Investigator or Scientific Supervisor per submission cycle.
- A Principal Investigator is not eligible to receive more than one EBAA Pilot Research Grant per year.
- An individual organization/institution is only eligible to receive up to two EBAA scientific research grants in one year.
- Research awards are designated for a one-year interval (July 1-June 30) and are made available in one payment. Unexpended and unobligated funds remaining after the one-year grant period should be returned to the EBAA. Renewal applications will not be accepted, but new applications stemming from prior research are encouraged for competitive consideration.
Application Requirements
All complete proposals should include:
- A completed application form that includes a detailed descriptions of the proposed research.
- Curriculum vitae or NIH bio sketch for the Principal Investigator and Scientific Supervisor.
- Itemized budget that follows the guidelines listed above.
- The Organization’s W9 and correct payment information (Check with your organization’s grant administration office prior to submission.)
- Applicants in training, eye-bank technicians, and nurses must submit a letter from the scientific supervisor regarding the capabilities of carrying out the proposed research study.
- Applicants who are not Paton Society members or who are not affiliated with an EBAA eye bank must submit a letter of support from a Paton Society member or the Medical Director of an EBAA eye bank; this letter must address the applicant’s capabilities for carrying out the research and the available facilities
Selection Process
All applications are reviewed by the EBAA Research Committee. The final decisions regarding the 2026 grant recipients will take place during the 2026 Annual Meeting. Awards will be made on the basis of scientific merit according to current funding capabilities and the recipients will be announced in June 2026.
The grant proposals are critiqued on the following parameters:
- Scientific, technical, or medical significance (relevance to eye banking)
- Originality of proposed research
- Logic of aims and feasibility
- Adequacy of experimental procedures
- Likelihood to produce new concepts and/or to provide basis for further research
- Appropriate protection of human subjects, animals, or environment (if utilizing hazardous materials or procedures)
- Qualifications of investigator to conduct proposed research
- Availability of essential resources
- Budget: adequate justification for proposed expenditures
Reports & Acknowledgements
The principal investigator will be required to submit a 6-month progress report as well as a final report describing the progress and status of the research project at the completion of the one-year award interval. Grant recipients are also expected to submit an abstract of their research findings for an EBAA sponsored scientific meeting.
Scientific publication resulting from the research grant shall acknowledge support by the Eye Bank Association of America.
Contact Information
If you have any questions, contact EBAA Director of Education, Stacey Gardner.
