Eyes On The Future

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed (Total expenditure 2024: £133,099)
• Success Rate: Not applicable - no public application process
• Decision Time: Not applicable - partnership-based funding
• Grant Range: £50,000+ (majority of grants are large awards)
• Geographic Focus: International (funding research globally)

Contact Details

• Website: https://eyesonthefuture.org.uk
• Email: contact@eyesonthefuture.org.uk
• Phone: 7557322613
• Address: 10 Queen Street Place, London, EC4R 1BE

Overview

Eyes on the Future was officially incorporated as a UK charity in 2022 (Charity No. 1198330), evolving from "Through Vicky's Eyes" which started in 2017. The charity promotes health and advances education in relation to rare diseases, eye diseases and inherited retinal dystrophies, with a specific focus on understanding and developing treatments for RDH12 Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). With an annual income of £441,562 (2024), the organization has raised over $1 million since inception and operates as part of the Global RDH12 Alliance alongside RDH12 Fund for Sight and Candle in the Dark.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Eyes on the Future expects that the majority of its grants will be large awards of £50,000 and over. Current and past funded partnerships include:

• Opus Genetics: Co-developing RDH12 Gene Therapy program
• University of Pennsylvania: Developing full-field stimulus test platform
• UCL London: Drug repurposing for potential small molecule therapies (4-year grant in partnership with Retina UK and Moorfields Eye Charity)
• Astellas Therapeutics: Pre-clinical gene therapy work
• Odylia Therapeutics: Exploring gene therapy models

Priority Areas

• Pre-clinical and clinical research for RDH12 treatments
• Gene therapy development for inherited retinal dystrophies
• Disease modeling and mechanism studies
• Drug repurposing and small molecule therapies
• Clinical trial design and outcome measures for RDH12

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the charity's narrow focus suggests they do not fund:

• General eye research unrelated to inherited retinal dystrophies
• Non-RDH12 related conditions
• General health or education projects outside their specific mission

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Governance and Leadership

Trustees

• Silvia Cerolini (CEO): Mother of 8-year-old Vicky with RDH12, 16 years in consumer goods industry, currently works in life sciences focusing on rare disease diagnosis. Co-founder who started Through Vicky's Eyes with husband Enrico.
• Claudia Calori: Marketing professional with experience at Procter & Gamble, HEINEKEN, and Nike; currently VP of Marketing at Philips Personal Health
• Francesca Revelli: Senior director in investment banking with Master's in Economics from Bocconi University
• Sean Russell: Biotech executive specializing in cell and gene therapy, runs consultancy firm PrimeRA Pharma Partners
• Francesca Lazzarini (Secretary): Transaction Manager at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Patient Advisory Board

Includes patients and carers from diverse backgrounds, providing lived experience perspective to guide research priorities.

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through strategic partnerships and trustee-identified opportunities. Researchers interested in RDH12 research should contact the charity directly to explore potential collaboration.

Getting on Their Radar

• Attend RDH12 scientific workshops and conferences (Eyes on the Future hosted the first RDH12 scientific workshop in Baltimore in 2019)
• Collaborate with existing funded institutions (UCL, University of Pennsylvania, Opus Genetics)
• Participate in the Global RDH12 Alliance network
• Contact directly via email (contact@eyesonthefuture.org.uk) with research proposals aligned to RDH12

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - funding decisions are made through strategic partnership discussions rather than formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no competitive application process.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - partnership-based funding model.

Application Success Factors

Based on funded projects, Eyes on the Future prioritizes:

• Direct relevance to RDH12 inherited retinal dystrophy
• Collaborative approaches with potential for clinical translation
• Researchers with established expertise in gene therapy or retinal diseases
• Projects that advance the pathway toward treatments
• International collaborations that leverage global expertise
• Research that builds on or complements existing funded work

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a traditional grant-making charity with open calls - relationship building is essential
• Focus must be specifically on RDH12 or closely related inherited retinal dystrophies
• Partnership with established research institutions increases likelihood of funding
• The charity actively seeks to seed innovative research globally
• Funding decisions appear to be strategic and mission-driven rather than competitive
• Consider connecting with existing funded researchers for collaboration opportunities
• Patient-centered approach is valued - engagement with Patient Advisory Board perspective important

Similar Funders

These funders frequently fund the same charities:

• The Arts Council of England
• Cancer Research UK
• British Heart Foundation
• Academy of Medical Sciences
• Health Data Research UK
• The London Community Foundation
• The Goodman Foundation
• THE JOHN S COHEN FOUNDATION
• The Arts Foundation
• The Marandi Foundation
• Cockayne Grants for the Arts
• Mayor of London
• Medical Research Council
• INSPIRATIONS
• GLOBAL REACH
• IN THE GAME
• THE TOWN HALL
• Google
• Bloomberg
• Northern Trust

References

• Eyes on the Future official website: https://eyesonthefuture.org.uk
• Grants & Publications page: https://eyesonthefuture.org.uk/grants-publications/
• Our Team page: https://eyesonthefuture.org.uk/our-team/
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-details/?regid=1198330&subid=0
• Find that Charity database: https://findthatcharity.uk/orgid/GB-CHC-1198330