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 Grace Lidgerwood

  Dr Grace Lidgerwood is from Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne.

  Project title: A stem-cell derived model of geographic atrophy age-related macular degeneration for mitochondrial-focussed drug screening

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• 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

  u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnDr Ting Zhang is from the Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnu003cstrongu003eProject title:u003c/strongu003e Activating endogenous phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH) to treat age-related macular degeneration with the help of a Müller cell-specific lipid nanocarrier.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnThe 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.rnrnu003ca class=u0022btn btn-mw btn-100u0022 href=u0022https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/news/understanding-amd-at-a-cellular-level/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eRead moreu003c/au003e

• Dr Anai Gonzalez Cordero

  u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnDr Anai Gonzalez Cordero is from the University of Sydney.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnu003cstrongu003eProject title:u003c/strongu003e Creating a macula in retinal organoids.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnThis project will create a macula-containing organoid, ‘mini organs’, that will then be used as perfect laboratory models for macular degeneration.rnrnu003c!u002du002d /wp:paragraph u002du002du003e u003c!u002du002d wp:paragraph u002du002du003ernrnMacular 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.rnrnu003ca class=u0022btn btn-mw btn-100u0022 href=u0022https://www.mdfoundation.com.au/news/creating-the-perfect-laboratory-macula-model/u0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eRead moreu003c/au003e

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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