Sight Research UK has today launched its new Research Strategy for 2026-2031, alongside the Impact Report 2020-2026 highlighting how targeted investment in eye research is delivering significant returns and accelerating progress toward new treatments.
The report reveals that over the past five years, the charity has invested £2.41 million into 48 research projects, acting as a powerful catalyst for innovation and unlocking significantly greater levels of funding and progress, which has amounted to £43.5 million in follow-on funding.
Impact Report findings:
Practical outcomes:
Within the Impact Report, funded projects from 2020 onwards have delivered a wide range of outcomes, including:
- 224 research publications
- 43 additional funding awards
- 31 national and international collaborations
- Progress towards clinical trials, spinouts and new treatment pathways
These findings clearly evidence that Sight Research UK’s funding has sparked collaboration, strengthened scientific networks, influenced policy and practice, and nurtured the next generation of innovators. The impact of this work is already emerging, and its long‑term potential is profound.
Monetary outcomes:
Despite operating in a highly competitive funding environment, Sight Research UK has demonstrated exceptional return on investment:
- £2.41 million invested in research
- £43.5 million in additional funding leveraged alongside our investment
- £2.52 generated for every £1 invested (a 152% return)
- 35% of funded projects secured further funding
This impact positions the charity as a key enabler of early-stage and translational research in the UK, helping ideas move from lab-based discovery towards real-life benefit to patients.
Looking ahead to the new research strategy:
Despite progress, the Impact Report highlights a significant funding gap in eye research, which the latest obtainable figures indicate receives just 1.5% of total UK medical research funding.
Building on this momentum, Sight Research UK’s Research Strategy 2026-2031 sets out a more ambitious approach focused on:
- Expanding early-stage and translational research funding
- Supporting researchers earlier and for longer
- Developing larger partnerships and investment opportunities
- Accelerating the translation of research into real-world patient benefit
Lucy Culkin, Chief Executive Officer of Sight Research UK, says:
“Our investigative Impact Report demonstrates the power of targeted investment in unlocking innovation and driving real progress in the eye health sector. The charity’s new research strategy builds on this success, ensuring we can support the most promising science and deliver meaningful change for people living with sight loss.”
With a renewed focus on turning discovery science into patient benefit, Sight Research UK aims to accelerate breakthroughs and improve outcomes for people affected by sight loss across the country.
Strategic priorities 2026-2031:
The new strategy focuses on scaling this model while expanding reach and influence. Key priorities include:
Expanding translational research funding
Stronger partnerships and collaboration
Sustainable growth
Raising profile and engagement
Supporting researchers end-to-end
Expanding translational research funding
- Continued focus on seed funding to de-risk early ideas
- New Translational Readiness Awards (Levels 3–4) to support earlier-stage innovation
- Larger awards (up to £250,000) to accelerate clinical and commercial readiness
Stronger partnerships and collaboration
- Increased focus on partnership grants for high-impact, scalable projects
- Alignment with new opportunities in AI, commercialisation and public-private funding
Sustainable growth
- Target to increase turnover to £1.5 million within 3 years
- Development of new funding streams and partnerships
Raising profile and engagement
- Expanding reach through improved communications and annual impact reporting
- Growing engagement with researchers, patients and supporters
Supporting researchers end-to-end
- Funding researchers earlier and for longer
- Strengthening relationships with grant holders and building long-term pipelines
Read the full reports:
