Career Development Awards
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These awards allow us to provide short term support to science researchers, clinical, nursing, optometry and allied health professionals who are already on an academic career track and are of the calibre to be future leaders of vision research and eye health.
Our Career Development Awards are currently closed to new expressions of interest. Please check back later for more information on the next round.
Career Development Awards enable individuals to focus on their research and to capitalise on other external funding opportunities to develop their research programmes.
This approach will help ensure that by the end of the award, they are in the strongest position to secure prestigious fellowships and other external funding to catapult them to the next stage of their career.
Application deadlines and decision timelines
There is one application round per year. Interested candidates submit an expression of interest and if successful will be invited to submit a full application. Full applications require the endorsement of the Institute of Ophthalmology Fellowship Committee (where relevant) by the time of submission.
Spring 2024 round
- Opened: 17 May 2023
- Expression of interest submission closed: 13 June 2023
- Full application submission closes: 26 July 2023 (you must have been invited to submit a full application)
- Shortlisted candidates interviews: February 2024
- Outcome: applicants will be notified in March 2024
Eligibility and suitability
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You will normally have a PhD and have significant post-doctoral or equivalent research experience.
You should be able to demonstrate that you are already on an academic career track and are of the calibre to be a future leader of ophthalmic research / clinical practice.
Applicants must demonstrate the career progression stages they are currently situated within. Given the remit of the scheme, it is expected that the applications will normally be from individuals who are within the ‘reaching independence’ stage. Given the calibre expected in this competitive scheme candidates who fall within the ‘developing research’ stage will not normally be competitive for this scheme. Individuals who consider they are on the cusp of the ‘research independence’ stage and have tangible demonstration of their future potential from their track record should contact the charity before considering an application.
Applicants must either be currently or soon to be employed by Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust or the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology on a non-tenured or equivalent contract of employment.
How much can I apply for?
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Applications will include the salary for the candidate but can also include funding for direct research costs.
Applicant salary
- Salary commensurate with current salary
- Inclusion of up to two clinical sessions where that clinical work will be completed in Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Research activity funding
Funding can be requested for directly related research costs of up to a normal maximum of £150,000 (pro rata). Please note that the expectation is that only in exceptional circumstances and/or laboratory based research will research costs be close to the maximum.
Cost-challenging will be carried out.
Grant duration
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The Career Development Award can have a duration of up to 24 months, and start dates can be set up to 24 months after application.
For any other enquiries or additional support, please contact the Moorfields Eye Charity Grants and Research Team.
Email: moorfields.eyecharity.researchgrants@nhs.net
Phone: 0207 566 2565
Career Development Awards make all the difference
Current funding opportunities
