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The vision of the Macular Society is to end macular disease through funding world-class medical research.

As well as medical research, the Macular Society funds research to help those living with macular disease now. For example, projects on the eccentric viewing technique have helped the Society to train and support those with macular disease to use their remaining vision most effectively.

The vision of the Macular Society is to end macular disease through funding world-class medical research. Everything we fund is aimed at improving the treatment for or quality of life of patients with macular disease. 

Action Against AMD (AAAMD) is a partner of INSIGHT, one of seven ‘digital hubs’ funded by the government through Health Data Research UK, to create a UK-wide system for the safe and responsible use of health-related data on a large scale. The HDR Hub for Eye Health partnership includes experts from a range of backgrounds, including academia and pharmaceutical companies.

Since 1987 the Macular Society has invested around £10 million in over 100 research projects. Each year we invite applications for research grants, PhD studentships and seedcorn grants which are assessed by our Research Committee.

Professor Mike Cheetham, UCL, Institute of Ophthalmology - £250,000

Stargardt disease is often caused by mutations in a gene called ABCA4. Mutations cause the ABCA4 protein produced to fold incorrectly and be removed from the cell. Without any ABCA4 protein the macula becomes damaged, which causes vision loss. This project aims to fix the misfolding, to restore ABCA4 in the cells, and therefore maintain a healthy macula and stop vision loss.

Dr Ruth Hogg, Queen's University Belfast - £249,941

This project uses long-term follow-up of retinal scans from the Northern Ireland Cohort of the Longitudinal study of Ageing (NICOLA), to understand what changes in eye scans may be early signs of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Professor Majlinda Lako, Newcastle University - £249,998

This project is aiming to understanding how the cells that make up the blood vessels in the macula may become damaged in early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Following this, the goal is to find drug targets that can maintain blood vessel health to prevent or slow AMD progression.

Dr Eleni Beli, UCL - £267,533 (co-funded with Diabetes UK)

Disruptions to our body clock can have a surprising impact on our health, including links with eye damage for people living with diabetes. Dr Eleni Beli wants to take a closer look at these links, to understand more about how eye damage can develop and progress. Her research could uncover an innovative new approach to help people with diabetes avoid sight loss.

Prof Karl Matter, UCL - £489,423 (co-funded with Diabetes UK)

High blood sugar levels can lead to damage to our eyes, known as retinopathy. Professor Karl Matter thinks that a protein called MarvelD3, that helps cells to stick together in blood vessels, might hold some answers. His research could provide valuable new insights to develop innovative approaches to protect blood vessels and prevent sight loss for people with diabetes.