Our grant-making process

Applications are assessed in two stages:

• Stage 1: Applications are a brief expression of interest outlining the proposed project. These are assessed by relevant members of our independent Research Advisory Board depending on their expertise. Successful applicants are invited to submit a full application within five weeks of the Stage 1 deadline.

• Stage 2: Following notification of Stage 1 outcome, applicants have four weeks to submit their Stage 2 application.

• External peer review: Applications are assessed by up to four external peer reviewers per application. These are relevant experts drawn from the fields of translational research, clinical research, clinical practice, and industry and are selected to match their expertise to the proposed project. We will do whatever possible to avoid bias either for or against the applicant and/or the host institution. Applicants are invited to suggest names of peer reviewers that we should not seek a review from.  External peer reviewers have 6 weeks to return their reviews.

• Rebuttal: Applicants have the opportunity for rebuttal following receipt of external peer reviews. Any rebuttal must be received within ten days of request from the Sight Research UK Grants Team.

• Research Advisory Board meeting: All external peer reviews and applicants’ rebuttals are sent to the Research Advisory Board at least three weeks prior to their meeting. Research Advisory Board members are asked to prepare for their meeting by pre-scoring all applications to facilitate discussion on the day. All Stage 2 applications are considered at the same Research Advisory Board meeting.

• Trustees Board meeting: The Chair of the Research Advisory Board attends the Sight Research UK Board of Trustees meeting to report the advice on funding recommendations from the Research Advisory Board. The Trustees make their grant-making decisions based on the expert advice and on the financial capacity of the organisation at that time. Occasionally, the Trustees will offer to undertake proactive fundraising for projects that, although judged fundable by the Research Advisory Board, exceed the financial capacity of the organisation.

• Feedback: Following the Board of Trustees’ decision, the Grants Team provides feedback to all applicants, whether successful or unsuccessful. Wherever helpful, we share the views of the Research Advisory Board and of the external peer reviewers who reviewed the applications. Grant Award contracts are issued to all successful candidates and the Grants Team liaises with the award holders throughout the life of the award.

For more information on our Translational Research Award, click here. 

Applications are accepted during the grant open window (usually July - August) and assessed annually as follows:

• There is only one stage for applications to this scheme. 
• After each application deadline (annually), the Sight Research UK Grants Team carries out a first assessment to check eligibility criteria. All eligible applications are submitted to our Seed Panel.
• Trustees Board: Scoring and recommendations from our Seed Panel are discussed by Board of Trustees, who decide which projects should be funded according to which projects are highest scoring and align most closely with our research strategy.

• Feedback: Following the Board of Trustees’ decision, the Grants Team provides feedback to all applicants, whether successful or unsuccessful. Grant Award contracts are issued to all successful candidates and the Grants Team liaises with the award holders throughout the life of the award.

For more information about our Seed Award, click here.

Applications are invited with a specific focus for each grant call:

• Stage 1: Applications are a brief expression of interest outlining the proposed project. These are assessed by relevant members of our independent Research Advisory Board depending on their expertise. Successful applicants are invited to submit a full application within five weeks of the Stage 1 deadline.
  • Note: We only make a single award for this funding scheme for each grant call. In order to avoid disappointment and waste of resources, the Stage 1 application is more robust than a simple expression of interest, and only three or four applications will be progressed to Stage 2.

• Stage 2: Following notification of Stage 1 outcome, applicants have six weeks to submit their Stage 2 application.  

• External peer review: Applications are assessed by up to four external peer reviewers per application. These are relevant experts drawn from the fields of translational research, clinical research, clinical practice, and industry and are selected to match their expertise to the proposed project. We will do whatever possible to avoid bias either for or against the applicant and/or the host institution. Applicants are invited to suggest names of peer reviewers that we should not seek a review from.  External peer reviewers have 6 weeks to return their reviews.

• Rebuttal: Applicants have the opportunity for rebuttal following receipt of external peer reviews. Any rebuttal must be received within ten days of request from the Sight Research UK Grants Team.

• Research Advisory Board meeting: All external peer reviews and applicants’ rebuttals are sent to the Research Advisory Board at least three weeks prior to their meeting. Research Advisory Board members are asked to prepare for their meeting by pre-scoring all applications to facilitate discussion on the day. All Stage 2 applications are considered at the same Research Advisory Board meeting.

• Trustees Board meeting: The Chair of the Research Advisory Board attends the Sight Research UK Board of Trustees meeting to report the advice on funding recommendations from the Research Advisory Board. The Trustees make their grant-making decisions based on the expert advice and on the financial capacity of the organisation at that time. Occasionally, the Trustees will offer to undertake proactive fundraising for projects that, although judged fundable by the Research Advisory Board, exceed the financial capacity of the organisation.

• Feedback: Following the Board of Trustees’ decision, the Grants Team provides feedback to all applicants, whether successful or unsuccessful. Wherever helpful, we share the views of the Research Advisory Board and of the external peer reviewers who reviewed the applications. Grant Award contracts are issued to all successful candidates and the Grants Team liaises with the award holders throughout the life of the award.

For more information on our Strategic Award, click here.

Applications are assessed in a single stage:

• There is no deadline for applications for this funding scheme, because the funds are not awarded from our existing funds, but through specific fundraising campaigns.
• Applicants should approach our Grants Team by email at grants@sightresearchuk.org or by phone: 0117 325 7757 to check whether the equipment requested supports research that aligns with our research strategy.

• If the request is in line with our strategic goals, the Grants Team will advise the applicant whether we are able to offer fundraising support at that time. 
  • Please note that applicants would need to allow a minimum of 12 months for any fundraising campaign to deliver the funding required. 

• If we can offer to run a specific fundraising campaign, the Grants Team will ask for an application (same as Seed Award) to be assessed by our Research Advisory Board.

• The Chair of the Research Advisory Board will advise the Sight Research UK Board of Trustees about the merits of the application and will make a recommendation based on its independent assessment. 

For more information on our Equipment Grants, click here.