PRPH2 & Associated Retinal Diseases (PARD) Science Award

PARD Science Award

Funds collaborative retinal disease research within Friedreich ataxia scientific programs.

The PRPH2 and Associated Retinal Diseases (PARD) Science Award is a co-funded program administered jointly by the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Nixon Visions Foundation. Foundation Fighting Blindness is a US 501(c)(3) public charity established in 1971 that has raised nearly $1 billion supporting retinal disease research. The PARD award is narrowly scoped to PRPH2-related retinal disease: funded projects must advance understanding of PRPH2 biology and pathophysiology in the retina, or work toward potential treatments for PRPH2-associated inherited retinal diseases. Research outside the PRPH2 gene and its direct pathophysiology is not within scope of this award.

Awards reach up to $500,000 over one to three years. The application process is two-stage: applicants first submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) via the Foundation's online portal; only applicants invited on the basis of their LOI submit a full application. For the FY26 cycle, the LOI deadline was 28 August 2025 and the full application deadline was 20 November 2025; that cycle is now fully closed. The FY27 cycle is expected to open in 2026, consistent with the program's annual cadence. PDF LOI guidelines, application guidelines, and a budget template are published on the program page when the cycle opens.

For-profit entities are not eligible for the PARD award; applicants must be non-profit organizations, universities, or research institutions. Because budget terms may carry conditions from both the Foundation Fighting Blindness and the Nixon Visions Foundation, applicants should review guidelines from both co-funders before budgeting. Researchers with strong PRPH2-specific expertise and institutional affiliation should track the program's page from mid-2026 for the FY27 RFP announcement, and should prepare LOI materials in advance given the narrow eligibility window.