Grant Family Fund

Early career research grants

The Grant Family Fund is a biennial grant opportunity made possible by a generous bequest from the estate of the Late Faye Grant.

First awarded in 2021, the funding provides grants to early career researchers for innovative and creative “blue sky” research in the field of macular disease.

The Grant Family Fund seeks to challenge and shift current paradigms and/or have a major impact on macular disease research through studies that creatively: 

2023 Grant Family Fund recipients

• Dr Alexis Ceecee Britten-Jones

  Dr Alexis Ceecee Britten-Jones is form University of Melbourne.

  Project title: Redefining macular disease diagnosis to improve access to emerging therapies

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• Dr Xavier Hadoux

  Dr Xavier Hadoux is from Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne.

  Project title: Evaluating the potential of hyperspectral imaging for detecting and monitoring geographic atrophy

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2021 Grant Family Fund recipients

• Dr Ting Zhang

  Dr Ting Zhang is from the Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney.
  Project title: Activating endogenous phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) to treat age-related macular degeneration with the help of a Müller cell-specific lipid nanocarrier.
  The project will look at age-related macular degeneration at a cellular level. It will consider the role of an important enzyme in combating oxidative and mitochondrial stress to particular retinal cells.
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• Dr Anai Gonzalez Cordero

  Dr Anai Gonzalez Cordero is from the University of Sydney.
  Project title: Creating a macula in retinal organoids.
  This project will create a macula-containing organoid, ‘mini organs’, that will then be used as perfect laboratory models for macular degeneration. Macular tissue can be used as a source of cells for replacement therapies and used to test the efficacy of potential therapies, promising to ameliorate the sight loss of millions of people.
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Get involved in our research program

For researchers

We’re now the largest non-government source research for macular disease in Australia. Register an interest or apply for the next round of Research Grants.

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For donors

The Grant Family Fund was made possible through a generous bequest. A gift in your Will can leave a lasting legacy that will impact generations.

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