NIH National Eye Institute logo
Funder · Federal agency

NIH National Eye Institute

Funds vision and eye-health research through NIH National Eye Institute grants, centers, and small company opportunities.

United Stateswww.nei.nih.gov
Key stats
Annual funding—
Programs4
Active grants5
Total grants5
About

The NIH National Eye Institute (NEI) is one of NIH's 27 institutes and centers and remains a standalone vision-research funder after the proposed FY2026 merger into a broader neuroscience institute was rejected. NEI supports basic, translational, and clinical work on sight and eye disease.

Its portfolio covers retina, cornea, lens and cataract, glaucoma, low vision and rehabilitation, amblyopia a…

Programs & grants under this funder
NEI Audacious Goals Initiative (AGI)

Funds major investigator-led vision research at universities and research organisations.

NEI Research Project Grant

Supports small United States businesses partnering with research organisations on eye-focused technology innovation.

1 grant
NEI R01 Research Project Grant
Open
— pool
NEI Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)

Funds restoration of vision through advanced research programs for retinal neuron and sensory recovery.

2 grants
NEI SBIR Phase I — Feasibility
Open
— pool
NEI SBIR Phase II — R&D
Open
— pool
NEI Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

Supports small United States businesses developing vision technologies through early-stage innovation grants.

2 grants
NEI STTR Phase I — Feasibility
Open
— pool
NEI STTR Phase II — R&D
Open
— pool
Parent entityNational Institutes of Health
Last verified: 29 May 2026Source: www.nei.nih.gov