RPB Walt and Lilly Disney Award for Amblyopia Research

The RPB Walt and Lilly Disney Award for Amblyopia Research was initiated to strengthen and promote research to improve the diagnosis and/or treatment of amblyopia. (The application should clearly specify how the proposed research is related to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and/or treatment of amblyopia.)  Grants will be offered to assist exceptional ophthalmic scientists (MDs, PhDs, MD/PhDs or equivalent doctoral degree), doing research of unusual significance and promise in this area. This award is available to researchers from any institution of higher education in the U.S.  RPB grants a total of $150,000 to be divided among one or more awardees at a time. This award may be available through Spring 2025. The nominee's primary appointment can be in any department, and may range from Assistant Professor to full Professor. Although this award is meant to support amblyopia investigators at various stages of their academic careers, be advised that proposals should reflect independent research. Department chairs (including interim or acting chairs) may nominate one candidate per department.  Previous recipients of this award who have not received the award in the last five (5) years are eligible to apply.  Awardees will be required to expend the award within two (2) years.

The spring cycle application deadline for the Disney Award for Amblyopia Research is January 10, with nomination forms due no later than December 15.  This award is not available during the fall cycle.  Applications received without a prior nomination form will not be accepted.  (If the nomination or application deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, please consider the deadline to be the following business day.) 

The nomination and application forms for this award will be available in April 2026.