Research Funding of the Helmut Ecker Foundation
The Helmut Ecker Foundation supports thematically and temporally limited research projects as well as projects, medical devices, and treatment methods related to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other ophthalmological diseases. Applications are possible at any time following a mandatory preliminary inquiry and are decided upon by the Foundation Board.
Discover your potential with AI support
- Find out if this grant matches your project
- Develop your application together with AI
- Get matched with many more suitable grants
Grant criteria
Funding objective
Support and promotion of research on dry and wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) as well as other eye diseases that threaten vision. The focus is on patient-oriented applications of research findings in diagnostics, prevention, and therapy to preserve the quality of life of those affected.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel costs
- Costs for equipment procurement
- Costs for consumables
- Costs for animal experiments and animal housing
Non-eligible expenses
- Salaries of clerical staff
- Construction and furnishing measures
- General institute costs/overhead
- Travel expenses for specialist conferences without direct research relevance
- Publication costs without direct project relevance
Eligible to apply
- Educational Institutions
- Public Institutions
- Non-profit Organizations
Funding requirements
- Mandatory preliminary inquiry before application submission
- Thematic relevance to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) or other ophthalmological diseases
- Temporally and substantively clearly defined research project
Documents required for application
- Preliminary inquiry form
- Application as PDF (text and financial plan)
- Signed copy (by post)
- Scientific curriculum vitae
- List of publications
- Data protection declaration (signed)
- Ethics approval/animal experiment authorization
- Cooperation confirmations
- Cost estimates for equipment (if requested)
- Consent declaration from institute/clinic management
Evaluation criteria
- Quality and innovative content of the research project
- Thematic focus on AMD and ophthalmological diseases
- Patient-oriented application of the research results
Description
The research funding of the Helmut Ecker Foundation is aimed nationwide at universities, clinics, institutes, as well as non-profit and public educational institutions dedicated to the study of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other ophthalmological diseases. The focus is on patient-oriented applications in diagnostics, prevention, and therapy to maintain the quality of life of those affected in the long term. Funding is provided for research projects that are clearly limited in time and content, initiated by a mandatory preliminary inquiry process, and completed within a maximum of 24 months. The foundation board continuously decides on grant applications – with innovation content, methodological quality, and direct benefit to patients playing a central role.
Eligible to apply are scientists and research teams in the field of ophthalmology; the application requires a preliminary inquiry as well as the submission of a detailed project proposal including a scientific CV, publication list, ethics approval or animal experiment authorization, financing plan, and cooperation confirmations. Eligible costs include personnel expenses, equipment acquisitions, consumables, and project-specific animal experiment costs (max. €150,000). Overhead, general infrastructure and publication costs, or travel expenses without direct research relevance are not covered. The foundation excludes double funding and requires transparent disclosure of existing third-party funds. Thanks to the ongoing application possibility and clear formal guidelines, research projects can be supported flexibly and purposefully – thus innovative approaches to combating vision-threatening eye diseases are optimally promoted.
Ready to secure your funding?
Register now and let our AI guide you through the application process – from eligibility check to finished application.