ARDMLA announces research grant program

This new grant program will make funds available to individuals and scientific teams researching issues relating to macular degeneration, a degenerative disease of the eye.

Macular degeneration, which causes vision loss, affects about 1 million French people, a number which is expected to double in the next 40 years. Currently, there is no cure for macular degeneration. Research is being conducted to identify the causes of the disease and potential treatments.

ARDMLA’s new grant program will financially support research projects that could potentially lead to major discoveries concerning the treatment or cure of macular degeneration.

“ARDMLA firmly believes that scientific research will help find a cure for macular degeneration. We know one of the biggest obstacles for researchers is lack of funding, which is why we are making these grants available to help them with their important work, “said Tracey Lewert, ARDMLA chairwoman. “We are looking forward to advancing promising research in the macular degeneration field.”

Applications for grants will be available in April 2007. Completed applications will be accepted through June 8, 2007. Eligible candidates must have previous experience in macular degeneration research and must currently be working on the disease at a France-based institution. Different candidates from the same laboratory may apply; however, each scientific project must examine different approaches. Innovative approaches and younger researchers are especially encouraged to apply.

The grants will be awarded to applicants based upon their project’s scientific merit and relevance to ARMDLA’s goals. All applications will be reviewed by an independent, international scientific committee.

Upon the recommendation of the scientific committee, the ARDMLA Board of Directors will select fund grantees in October and make the awards in November of 2007.

To determine eligibility and learn about application criteria and the submission process, interested parties may visit the ARDMLA Web site at www.ardmla.org or by calling ARDMLA’s headquarters at 01 44 88 54 89.