Apply for a Research Grant
BrightFocus provides research funds for U.S. domestic as well as international researchers pursuing pioneering research leading to greater understanding, prevention, and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Alzheimer’s Disease Research Request for Proposals →
Macular Degeneration Research Request for Proposals→
National Glaucoma Research Request for Proposals→
To start a new application and upload attachments, you must use our ProposalCentral application portal to apply online. Note: Your organization must be registered with ProposalCentral to apply.
Our Funding Philosophy
It is our firm belief that having the courage to invest in innovative ideas will lead to revolutionary therapies. BrightFocus provides initial funding for highly innovative experimental ideas, including interdisciplinary investigations that may apply to two or three of the BrightFocus disease interests. Most of the awardees use the BrightFocus award funds to demonstrate key findings that lead to later interest and additional funding from industrial or governmental funding agencies.
Grant Application Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to applicants’ frequently asked questions, from eligibility to the review process, categorized by each disease program.
Guidelines
From file type and size to formatting requirements, ensure your application checks the necessary boxes.
Terms & Conditions
Your guide to understanding the conditions of funding and the definitions and abbreviations used throughout the grant agreement.
News
Recent News & Breakthroughs
FDA Approves Repurposed Anti-Depressant to Treat Alzheimer’s-Associated Agitation
Auvelity, developed by Axsome Therapeutics, was approved today by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease agitation, a common and challenging symptom that affects 40 to 60 percent of people living with Alzheimer’s.
BrightFocus Honors 5 Vision Scientists Advancing Breakthrough Eye Research
At a ceremony recognizing 2026 vision grant recipients, these prestigious awards honor five standout scientists whose work is shaping the future of prevention, treatments, and cures for macular degeneration and glaucoma—two leading causes of vision loss.
Donor Support Powers $16M+ Investment in 69 Projects Tackling Alzheimer’s, Macular Degeneration, and Glaucoma
Following a year of uncertainty surrounding federal biomedical research funding, BrightFocus Foundation provides critical support for innovative brain and eye research.
Breaking News Dispatch: Alzheimer’s Oral Therapies, Prevention Strategies, and Targeted Treatments Emerge
Get the latest research news from the 2026 International Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders (AD/PD) conference.
Focusing on the Future: Key Takeaways from the 2025 Glaucoma Fast Track
BrightFocus Foundation’s 2025 Glaucoma Fast Track brought together early-career and established scientists to provide a thorough overview of the biology, diagnosis, and treatment of glaucoma.
Shaping the Future of Macular Degeneration Research: Key Takeaways from the 2025 AMD Fast Track Workshop
BrightFocus Foundation’s 2025 Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Fast Track brought together early-career and established scientists to accelerate research toward a cure for AMD.
How Understanding Lipid Processing in the Eye Could Spark Innovative AMD Treatment Approaches
With the help of funding from Macular Degeneration Research, Dr. Neetu Kushwah is studying the link between abnormal lipid regulation in the eye, inflammation, and age-related macular degeneration. Her findings could inspire new methods for treating the disease.
Can Targeting the Immune System Slow the Progression of Alzheimer’s?
BrightFocus Alzheimer’s Disease Research grant recipient Joshua Emmerson, PhD, is exploring a certain type of immune cell’s unexpected role in Alzheimer’s disease—and what it could mean for protecting the brain.
BrightFocus Statement on Bipartisan Action to Protect Brain and Eye Research
BrightFocus Foundation supports the bipartisan appropriations bill for fiscal year 2026, which provides critical federal funding for brain and eye research.