Fight for Sight Announces 2010 Grant Winners for Promising Vision Research Studies

NEW YORK, Aug. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Fight for Sight, an organization that has supported eye and vision research since 1946 by providing funds to promising scientists early in their careers, today announced its 64th annual selection of grantees for outstanding eye research projects.

This year, 35 grants valued at $288,300 have been awarded to researchers in three categories: seven Post-Doctoral Awards, five Grants-in-Aid, and 23 Summer Student Fellowships.  This year's grants fund research on a wide spectrum of vision and optical conditions that affect millions of Americans young and old, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa, aniridia, cataracts, dry eye, and lazy eye. For a full list of 2010 grantees, please visit: www.fightforsight.org.

Fight for Sight's (FFS) mission is unique among eye and vision research foundations -- it identifies and funds promising students and researchers at the beginning of their academic and professional careers. The FFS grant allows awardees to obtain preliminary results and the first experience necessary to successfully apply for larger federal and foundation awards, such as the National Institutes of Health.  

"The 2010 grant awardees will research a wide range of eye and vision issues that affect millions of Americans every day," said Mike Wilke, executive director of Fight for Sight. "We are pleased to offer these individuals the opportunity to pursue their goals for vision research -- often these first research studies inspire a life-long passion for eye research, as so many of our alumni have gone on to achieve great things in the field."

Over the last 64 years, Fight for Sight grants have been awarded to numerous scientists and researchers who have become major industry leaders.  Just a few of the prominent alumni include: Robert Machemer, MD, the "father" of modern retinal surgery; Laszlo Bito, PDD, who developed the glaucoma drug Xalatan; Paul Sieving, MD, PhD (1980), current Director of the National Eye Institute; and more. Since its inception, FFS has awarded over $20 million in grants to more than 3,000 eye researchers.

Grantees are selected through a rigorous review process by Fight for Sight's Scientific Review Committee. Annual Post-Doctoral Awards and Grants-in-Aid are valued at $20,000 each and Summer Student Fellowships are $2,100 each.  

2010 awards were made to a diverse group of universities and medical centers from coast to coast, including such pre-eminent institutions as the Harvard Medical School, The New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, Johns Hopkins, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, University of Michigan, and University of California, Berkeley.

For more information on each grantee, please contact Megan Raphael at Mediashop PR: [email protected] or 212-867-8778 x232.

About Fight for Sight

Since 1946, Fight for Sight (FFS) has invested in the future of eye and vision research by funding promising scientists early in their careers. FFS has supported over 3,000 new scientists with more than $20 million in research that has contributed directly or indirectly to major advances in ophthalmology and vision research, including development of the IOL, aspects of donor cornea preservation, various uses of ophthalmic lasers, glaucoma therapies, and gene therapy. Founder Mildred Weisenfeld lost her vision to retinitis pigmentosa before starting Fight for Sight, the first organization to promote the importance of funding eye research.

SOURCE Fight for Sight