ARI Grant Applications and Guidelines
The Alcon Research Institute (ARI) recognizes and supports exceptional contributors to ophthalmic research worldwide through the annual Senior Investigator and Early Investigator Research Grant programs.
2027 Alcon Research Institute Senior and Early Investigator Grant Applications are now being accepted!
Early & Senior Grant Application timelines:
- November 1, 2026: Application period opens for the 2027 grant cycle
- November 1, 2026 - February 15, 2027: Application submissions
- February - May 2027: ARI Selection Committee reviews applications and selects grant recipients
- Summer 2027: 2027 Grant recipients announced
Grants at a Glance
Requirement | Senior Investigator Grant | Early Investigator Grant |
|---|---|---|
Career stage | Independent investigator; Associate Professor or equivalent professional level | Emerging investigator transitioning to an independent research career |
Research effort | N/A | At least 50% of professional effort |
Time since training | N/A | Within eight years of completing training |
Independent funding | Permitted, subject to ARI award limits | No R-level grant funding or equivalent independent funding status |
Maximum award | $250,000 | $100,000 |
Indirect costs | Up to 20% permitted (non-negotiable) | Up to 10% permitted (non-negotiable) |
Application limit | One per individual per year; no institutional limit | Two per institution |
Prior ARI funding | Once every three years; no more than twice per career; no more than one Senior Investigator Award permitted | Once every three years; no more than twice per career |
SENIOR INVESTIGATOR GRANT: ELIGIBILITY AND GUIDELINES
The Senior Investigator Grant is open to vision science community members who conduct independent research, including academic researchers, engineers, and clinician-scientists.
Applicant Eligibility Checklist
- Applicants should hold a rank of Associate Professor or equivalent professional level at the time of application.
- Individuals may submit only one application per calendar year.
- Members of the ARI Scientific Selection Committee and Executive Committee are not eligible to apply.
- Institutional application limit
- There is no limit to the number of applications submitted from a single institution.
- Award and funding terms
- The maximum award amount is $250,000.
- Grant funding will be provided as a single lump-sum payment. Funds may be carried forward through no-cost extensions for a period of up to three years from the date of award.
- Institutions may allocate no more than 20% of the award toward indirect costs.
Prior ARI award restrictions
- ARI funding may not be awarded to the same applicant more than once every three years, more than twice during their career, or more than one Senior Investigator Award.
- Supporting Information
- Preliminary research data are not required, but applicants are encouraged to submit supporting materials when available.
- Required application materials
- Applications must include: (in the listed order)
- A detailed curriculum vitae (CV)
- A current NIH-style biosketch
- A current professional photograph
- A complete publication list
- One or two letters of reference describing the applicant's accomplishments and qualifications to successfully conduct the proposed research
- Submit material as a single .pdf
- Applications must include: (in the listed order)
See the ARI Senior Research Grant Proposal template
Submit all application materials as per instructions to [email protected]
EARLY INVESTIGATOR GRANT: ELIGIBILITY AND GUIDELINES
The Early Investigator Grant supports emerging clinicians and scientists in vision research and ophthalmology as they transition to independent research careers.
Applicant Eligibility Checklist
- Applicants must devote at least 50% of their professional effort to research activities.
- Applicants must be within eight years of completing their training at the time of application (terminal doctorate degree or postgraduate clinical training, whichever occurred later). For clinician-scientists, postgraduate clinical training includes residency and applicable fellowship training.
- Applicants must not yet have attained NIH R-level grant funding (or equivalent independent funding status). R00 grants are an exception and are permitted.
- Rank and appointment
- Candidates should hold, or be nominated for an assistant professor level (research or tenure track).
- Associate professors are eligible provided they remain within the eight-year post-training requirement.
- Institutional application limit
- A maximum of two applications per institution may be submitted. If more than two applications are received from the same institution, the department head will be asked to identify the two applicants to advance for consideration.
- Award and funding terms
- The maximum award amount is $100,000. Funding is intended to support the recipient's research program at their institution.
- Institutions may allocate no more than 10% of the award toward indirect costs.
- Prior ARI award restrictions
- ARI funding may not be awarded to the same applicant more than once every three years, or more than twice during their career
- Required application materials
- Applicants must submit: (in the listed order)
- A current professional photograph
- A current NIH-style biosketch or detailed curriculum vitae (CV)
- One letter of reference, preferably from the department chair or division head
- Submit material as a single .pdf
- Applicants must submit: (in the listed order)
See the ARI Early Investigator Grant Proposal template
Submit all application materials as per instructions to [email protected]