Advancing research. Accelerating hope.

Two-stage process

Submit a Letter of Inquiry describing the proposed research, anticipated impact, requested funding, and project team. Selected applicants may then be invited to provide a detailed scientific proposal, budget, milestones, and supporting materials. Submission of an inquiry does not guarantee funding or a full-proposal invitation.

Research across the development pipeline

The grant program supports high-impact projects from foundational scientific discovery to translational research and clinical development. Its primary focus is inherited retinal diseases.

• Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS)
• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Stargardt disease
• Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA)
• Usher syndrome
• Cone-rod dystrophy
• Achromatopsia
• Choroideremia
• X-linked retinoschisis
• Other inherited retinal disorders

Expanded Bardet-Biedl syndrome interests

Because BBS is a complex multisystem disorder, RAB may also consider non-ocular research with the potential to improve patient health, quality of life, or long-term outcomes.

• Hyperphagia and obesity
• Metabolic dysfunction
• Kidney disease
• Cardiovascular complications
• Endocrine disorders
• Neurological manifestations
• Developmental and cognitive outcomes
• Mobility and physical function
• Precision medicine approaches
• Natural history or disease progression across organ systems

Research impact

RAB has committed $6.1 million to two complementary paths: $5.1 million to move AXV-101 toward clinical study and $1 million to expand gene-agnostic therapeutic approaches across inherited retinal diseases.

How applications are evaluated

Funding decisions consider the overall strength of the proposal as well as available funding and portfolio balance.

• Scientific merit
• Innovation
• Potential patient impact
• Translational potential
• Feasibility
• Qualifications of the investigative team
• Responsible use of requested funding
• Alignment with A Race Against Blindness' mission and strategic priorities