PRO RETINA-Stiftung zur Verhütung von Blindheit

The Pro Retina Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness is a non-profit private foundation that has been dedicated to promoting research on retinal degenerations since its legal recognition in 2007. Its goal is to support innovative projects from basic research to clinical application, thereby advancing the development of new therapies, visual prostheses, gene therapies, and rehabilitation methods. Since the beginning of its direct funding activities, the foundation has disbursed over €6 million to researchers and institutions in Germany and Switzerland and works closely with universities and clinics in Basel, Bonn, Dresden, Freiburg, Cologne, Münster, Regensburg, Tübingen, and Zurich.

The Pro Retina Foundation is committed to preventing the loss of vision caused by degenerative retinal diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and Usher syndrome. Through targeted project funding, doctoral scholarships, awards, and symposia, it consolidates resources and expertise to accelerate therapeutic approaches and offer affected individuals life-enhancing prospects.

The funding programs are aimed at established and early-career researchers, particularly doctoral candidates, clinicians, and interdisciplinary project teams engaged in ophthalmological basic research, preclinical models, gene therapies, optogenetics, nanotechnologies, or rehabilitation methods for retinal degenerations. Small projects for conference travel, publications, and participant compensation are also supported.