RFA-EY-24-003: NEI Research for Low Vision and Blindness Accessibility Tools (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)
Closed
This grant is closed. Who won this program's grants before is below, and similar open grants are at the end of the page. It is in our archive of National Institutes of Health notices from 2024.
National Institutes of Health offered grants to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. Applications closed on August 13, 2024.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed May 17, 2024. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award amountsNot given on Grants.gov
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
About this NIH notice
- Activity codeR61 / R33
- Clinical trialsOptional
- Funded byNEI
- Median yearly award$531,684
- Typical project length2 years
- R61, Exploratory/Developmental Phase I. The first phase of a phased award. Moving on to the R33 phase depends on meeting agreed milestones. Other open R61 notices.
- R33, Exploratory/Developmental Grant Phase II. The second phase of a phased award, usually following an R61 or R21 phase. Other open R33 notices.
Projects funded under RFA-EY-24-003 were run by National Eye Institute (NEI, 8 projects). Contact the program officer at the institute that fits your project before you apply; the notice lists them.
Application due dates, page limits and budget limits are set in the notice. Read RFA-EY-24-003 in the NIH Guide.
Key dates
| Posted | May 16, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | August 13, 2024 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | September 18, 2024 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses.
All 15 applicant types the notice lists
- State governments
- County governments
- City or township governments
- Special district governments
- Independent school districts
- Public and State controlled institutions of higher education
- Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized)
- Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities
- Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments)
- Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education
- Private institutions of higher education
- For profit organizations other than small businesses
- Small businesses
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Other Eligible Applicants include the following: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISISs); Eligible Agencies of the Federal Government; Faith-based or Community-based Organizations; Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Indian/Native American Tribal Governments (Other than Federally Recognized); Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations); Regional Organizations; Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs) ; U.S. Territory or Possession; Non-domestic (non-U.S.) Entities (Foreign Organizations) are not eligible to apply. Non-domestic (non-U.S.) components of U.S. Organizations are not eligible to apply. Foreign components, as defined in the NIH Grants Policy Statement, are allowed.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Most of the program's money (76% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
The purpose of this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) is to stimulate translational efforts in developing and implementing accessibility devices or interventions that apply new technologies to address challenges faced by individuals living with visual impairment. Critical elements of applications include a clear set of milestones that support development and testing of the tool, device, or intervention proposed; multidisciplinary and collaborative teams that include individuals with lived experience; and a tractable dissemination plan. The overall goal of the program is to push the boundaries of innovation in technology development to address accessibility needs of individuals with visual impairment and create resources that will be made available to the community. This NOFO uses a milestone driven and phased mechanism of award. Initial technology development and feasibility activities (R61 phase) may transition to expanded research support (R33 phase) for validation, larger-scale feasibility, and effectiveness studies. All applications must address both R61 and R33 phases.
Funded under RFA-EY-24-003 so far
NIH funded 8 projects under RFA-EY-24-003 in fiscal 2025 to 2026, at 8 institutions. The median yearly award was $531,684.
Who has won Vision Research grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Vision Research (93.867) awarded $3.4 billion across 3,275 grant awards, an average of $1.0 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Johns Hopkins University | Maryland | 137 | $139 million |
| The Leland Stanford Junior University | California | 87 | $96.5 million |
| The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco | California | 78 | $89.9 million |
| Duke University | North Carolina | 79 | $75.5 million |
| The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania | 57 | $73.9 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Agencies often post the same opportunity again under a new number, so check the program's notices on Grants.gov and the similar open grants below.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is RFA-EY-24-003 still open?
No. It closed on August 13, 2024.
Who can apply for NEI Research for Low Vision and Blindness Accessibility Tools (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)?
National Institutes of Health accepted applications from nonprofits, colleges and universities, state and local governments, tribes, small businesses and businesses. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for NEI Research for Low Vision and Blindness Accessibility Tools (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)?
Closed August 13, 2024. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
Who has been funded under RFA-EY-24-003?
NIH RePORTER lists 8 projects funded under RFA-EY-24-003 in fiscal 2025 to 2026, at 8 institutions. The most were at University of Southern California, Newhaptics Corp., University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Who has won Vision Research grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were The Johns Hopkins University, The Leland Stanford Junior University, The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco. The program made 3,275 awards worth $3.4 billion in that time.
Similar open grants
- Advanced Development and Validation of Emerging Technologies for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- Early-Stage Innovative Technology Development for Basic and Clinical Cancer Research (R61 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
- NCCIH Natural Product Early Phase Clinical Trial Phased Innovation Award (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Required)
- NCCIH Natural Product Early Phase Clinical Trial Award (R33 Clinical Trial Required)
- Prevention and Intervention Approaches for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Optional)
- HEAL Initiative: Studies to Enable Analgesic Discovery (R61/R33 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)