Sight Research Uk

Charity Number: 1156134

Annual Expenditure: £0.5M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £350,000 - £600,000
  • Success Rate: 25% (1 in 4 applications funded)
  • Decision Time: 3-5 months (varies by scheme)
  • Grant Range: £15,000 - £250,000
  • Geographic Focus: United Kingdom
  • Total Portfolio: 16 active projects across 10 UK universities (£950,000+)

Contact Details

Website: www.sightresearchuk.org

Email: hello@sightresearchuk.org | grants@sightresearchuk.org

Phone: 0117 325 7757

For research funding enquiries or to discuss alignment with strategy before applying, contact the Grants Team at grants@sightresearchuk.org.

Overview

Sight Research UK (charity number 1156134) has been funding pioneering eye research since 1986, investing over £19 million across more than 130 projects and supporting 40 PhD studentships. With annual giving ranging between £350,000-£600,000, this Bristol-based charity focuses exclusively on translational research that delivers tangible patient benefits quickly. Lucy Culkin joined as CEO in December 2024, bringing 25 years of charity leadership experience. The charity's mission is “to beat sight loss faster” by funding research into the causes and treatment of eye disease and blindness. Unlike many research funders, Sight Research UK only covers direct research costs, never using donor funds for university overheads. With recent income of £802,741 (2024), the charity maintains a lean operation with a small dedicated team supporting researchers across the UK.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Translational Research Award: £250,000 maximum, 24 months duration

  • Two-stage application process with external peer review
  • Annual funding cycle (applications typically open September)
  • Focused on Translational Readiness Levels 5, 6, or 7
  • Decisions finalized approximately 8 months after opening (e.g., May 2025 for September 2024 opening)
  • Online application via their website

Seed Award: £15,000 maximum, 12 months duration

  • One-stage application process
  • Annual funding cycle with 38% success rate in recent rounds
  • Applications typically open late June, deadline early September
  • Decisions made within 2 months of deadline
  • Online application via their website

Equipment Grants: Variable amounts

  • No fixed deadline (rolling basis)
  • Requires pre-application contact with Grants Team
  • Funded through specific fundraising campaigns
  • Allow minimum 12 months from approval to funding availability
  • Must align with research strategy

Strategic Awards: Occasional grants (details on application basis)

Priority Areas

Research Types Funded:

  • Proof of concept research with clear pathway to patient benefit
  • Laboratory-based (pre-clinical) research
  • Applied healthcare projects delivering tangible patient benefit
  • Clinical research eligible for NIHR Clinical Research Network support
  • Disease modelling research
  • Repurposing clinical studies
  • Novel device development (therapeutic or diagnostic)
  • Diagnostic testing development

Key Strategic Focus:

  • Research that can prevent, diagnose, or treat eye conditions
  • Projects offering greatest impact for patients in shortest timeframe
  • Strong candidates for early clinical trials
  • Research that fast-tracks improvements in patient care
  • Projects addressing severe underfunding in eye research sector

What They Don't Fund

  • Projects with no clear pathway to patient benefit
  • PhD studentships
  • Salaries between posts/funding (bridging funds)
  • General consumables
  • General support for research groups
  • Software development
  • Development of non-therapeutic or non-diagnostic devices
  • University overhead costs
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Governance and Leadership

Chair: Carol Mayo - Donor since 2002, joined Board January 2020, elected Chair June 2021. Background in retail leadership at Polarn O. Pyret and support for Blue Cross animal charity.

CEO: Lucy Culkin (joined December 2024) - "Here at Sight Research UK we are a small, dynamic team with one mission; to improve the lives of those living with, or threatened by, eye disease, and it's a privilege to work with such a dedicated group."

Treasurer: Simon Bowker - Qualified accountant, Financial Controller of ethical European bank.

Trustees (as of 2023/24):

  • Dolores Conroy - PhD in Pharmacology, former Director of Research at Fight for Sight
  • Serena Salvatore - Clinical Lead in Medical Retina, University Hospitals of Bristol and Weston
  • John Greenwood - Professor specializing in vascular biology and ophthalmology
  • John Swarbrick - Chartered Accountant, formerly Nationwide Building Society
  • Clive Hetherington - 33-year career at Lloyds Banking Group
  • Robert Drewett - Solicitor, High Sheriff of Somerset

Team: Small operational team of 6 staff including Grants Manager (Lisa), Fundraising Manager (Kerri), Marketing and Communications Manager (Aggie), Trusts and Foundations Officer (Rachele), and Administrator (Paulina).

Key Quote: “The objective of our research strategy is to support translational research to bring forward tangible benefit for patients, faster.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Translational Research Award (Two-Stage Process):

  1. Stage 1: Expression of Interest submission (5-week window typically September-October)
  2. Stage 1 Assessment: Grants Team checks eligibility, eligible applications submitted to review panel
  3. Stage 1 Results: Successful applicants invited to submit full application within 5 weeks
  4. Stage 2: Full application submission (4-week window after Stage 1 notification)
  5. External Review: Up to 4 external peer reviewers per application (6 weeks for review)
  6. Rebuttal: Applicants have 10 working days to respond to reviewer comments
  7. Research Advisory Board: Reviews applications and makes recommendations
  8. Board of Trustees: Final funding decisions based on expert advice and financial capacity
  9. Outcome: Decisions typically 8 months after opening (e.g., May decisions for September opening)

Seed Award (One-Stage Process):

  1. Applications typically open late June, deadline early September
  2. Grants Team first assessment for eligibility
  3. All eligible applications submitted to Seed Panel
  4. Seed Panel scoring and recommendations
  5. Board of Trustees decision based on highest scoring and strategic alignment
  6. Decisions made approximately 2 months after deadline (e.g., early November for September deadline)

Equipment Grants:

  • Contact Grants Team first to check strategic alignment
  • If aligned, team advises on fundraising capacity
  • Standard Seed Award application process if campaign proceeds
  • Research Advisory Board assessment
  • Allow minimum 12 months from agreement to funding

Application Portal: Online via www.sightresearchuk.org

Decision Timeline

  • Seed Award: ~2 months from deadline to decision
  • Translational Research Award: ~8 months from opening to final decision
  • Notification: Grants Team provides feedback to all applicants (successful and unsuccessful), sharing views of Research Advisory Board and external peer reviewers

Success Rates

  • Overall: 25% success rate (1 in 4 applications funded)
  • Seed Award: 38% success rate reported in recent rounds
  • Annual Applications: Average 40 applications per year across all schemes
  • Current Portfolio: 16 active projects across 10 UK universities

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy was found in public documentation. Contact the Grants Team at grants@sightresearchuk.org for guidance on resubmission policies and requirements for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be UK-based university researchers, NHS clinicians, clinical researchers, or allied healthcare professionals (including optometrists and opticians)
  • Lead applicant's employment contract must cover full project duration
  • PhD students not eligible as lead applicants
  • Multi-institution projects accepted, but lead applicant must be employed for full duration

What They Look For:

  • Clear Patient Pathway: Explicit route to patient benefit (diagnosis, prevention, or treatment)
  • Translational Readiness: Projects at appropriate TRL levels (5, 6, or 7 for Translational Award)
  • Speed to Impact: Research offering greatest impact in shortest timeframe
  • Preliminary Data: Proof of concept preliminary data required for Translational Award
  • Unmet Clinical Need: Projects addressing gaps in current treatment/diagnosis
  • Strong Candidates for Clinical Trials: Research positioned to move to early clinical trials

Recent Project Examples:

  • Dr. Lindsay Nicholson (University of Bristol): Uveitis research understanding T cell contributions to autoimmune eye conditions
  • Dr. Jian Liu & Katie Cox (University of Bristol): Gene therapy approach for macular degeneration using IRAK-M protein research

Application Tips:

  • Pre-Application Contact Encouraged: For Equipment Grants and questions about strategic alignment
  • Robust External Review: Up to 4 expert reviewers assess each Translational Award (including translational research, clinical research, clinical practice, and industry experts)
  • Rebuttal Opportunity: 10 working days to respond to reviewer comments in Translational Award process
  • Direct Costs Only: Only request direct project costs (salary, consumables, equipment, outsourced work)
  • Strategic Alignment Critical: Board decisions consider both expert assessment AND financial capacity
  • 38% Seed Award Success: Higher success rate for smaller grants suggests strong competition but achievable odds

Funding Philosophy Quote: “The objective of our research strategy is to support translational research to bring forward tangible benefit for patients, faster.”

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Translational Focus is Everything: Sight Research UK prioritizes speed to patient benefit above all else. Applications must demonstrate a clear, credible pathway to clinical application, not just scientific curiosity.
  • Choose the Right Scheme: The 38% success rate for Seed Awards (£15,000) versus 25% overall suggests starting with smaller grants to establish relationship and track record before pursuing larger Translational Awards.
  • Direct Costs Only Strategy: Unlike most funders, they never cover university overheads. Budget accordingly and recognize this reflects their commitment to maximizing research impact per donor pound.
  • Leverage the Rebuttal Process: For Translational Awards, the 10-day rebuttal window after peer review is a critical opportunity to address concerns—prepare to respond thoughtfully and quickly.
  • Pre-Application Contact Valued: The organization explicitly encourages applicants to contact the Grants Team before applying, especially for Equipment Grants and strategic alignment questions. This suggests they prefer collaborative relationships with applicants.
  • Small But Strategic Portfolio: With only 16 active projects across 10 universities, every grant matters. Applications must align tightly with their research strategy focusing on Translational Readiness Levels 5, 6, and 7.
  • Timing Matters: Annual funding cycles mean missing a deadline costs a full year. Plan applications well in advance: Seed Awards (June-September), Translational Awards (September-October for Stage 1).

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