Education Grants

Since 2006, the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation has been working to support the medical community’s efforts to investigate the causes of and to improve treatments for Coats’ Disease, with the goal of finding a cure.  We are offering Education Grants for junior Fellows and researchers to attend one of several conferences:

  • Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO)

  • Advances in Pediatric Retina (APR)

  • The Retina Society

  • American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO)

  • American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS)

  • American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus (AAPOS)

The Education Grants will support travel and registration to in-person conferences or registration fees to attend virtual conferences. By sponsoring new professionals to attend retina meetings, we hope to raise awareness about the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation and to encourage research into this disease.

Priority will be given to applicants who are presenting a paper, poster, or abstract on Coats’ Disease or other pediatric retinal disease research.

While we have reached our current grant funding capacity, we are excited to offer future Education Grants. If you would like to be notified when the call for proposals is reopened, please complete this brief form and we will contact you then. Thank you!

  • • Summary of Academic Background and Training (one paragraph) or a current CV.

    • Description of your desired travel (including a timeline for when you will depart and return) and a detailed budget (e.g. transportation, lodging/accommodations, and per diem expenses). If attending a virtual conference, please indicate the registration fee total.

    • Information about your current practice.

    • Brief statement (1-2 paragraphs) detailing your experience and interest in Coats’ Disease. Include (if applicable) any prior or ongoing research, publications, or presentations relevant to Coats’ Disease.

    • Brief statement (1-2 paragraphs) summarizing why attendance to the Conference would be meaningful. The summary may include how attendance may improve your understanding of Coats’ Disease; allow you to network with current or potential future collaborators on Coats’ Disease research; or allow you to present your current work.

    • The application should be no more than 2 pages, single spaced, with one-inch margins and in Arial – 11 pts. or larger.

    • Grant Recipients will be asked to provide a brief post-conference summary in writing and in video that includes the impact of attending the conference or meeting on their understanding of Coats’ Disease and the current state of research on this Disease. Please note: Summaries will be used by the Foundation to inform our supporters and donors of the value of this grant to your research and practice.

    • The Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation must be acknowledged in reports, poster sessions, presentations, papers, and publications resulting from or supported by the Education Grant.

  • • Recipients may receive up to $1,000 to support travel and registration fees to attend in-person conferences. For virtual meetings, the grant will support meeting registration fees. 

    • Deadline for Applications is 3 months prior to conference or meeting.

    • Notification of Grant Awards will be given one month prior to conference or meeting.

    • Applications must be in PDF format and submitted via online to Dr. Deborah Marron, Executive Director, Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation. Additional questions about proposal submission, proposal content and review, or applicant eligibility may be addressed to Deborah Marron at the e-mail specified above.

Research Gives Hope that a Cure for Coats' Disease is on the Horizon!

Since 2006, the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation has been working to support the medical community’s efforts to investigate Coats' Disease with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. Doctors and researchers hold the key to unlocking new treatments and breakthroughs for Coats’ Disease—but we need more doctors to focus on Coats' disease research and they need your support to get there. 

When deciding on the direction of their professional career focus, one of the most impactful experiences for new doctors and researchers is participation in medical conferences. Attending medical conferences provides opportunities for early-career doctors to collaborate with experts, which sparks innovation and inspires the next generation to focus on Coats’ Disease. Yet, for many early-career professionals, the cost of attending these crucial medical gatherings is a major barrier. That's why we developed the Education Grant Program to assist them in attending one of several key retinal conferences each year. The Education Grant Program provides financial assistance up to $1,000 to each awardee for conference registration and travel expenses. Since the Program's start in 2019, the Foundation has funded 20 Education Grants.  

We believe that these grants encourage new doctors to choose Coats' Disease as their research focus. Through this program, we are building our bench of future Coats' Disease experts, so we are launching a campaign to fund more Education Grants. 

Our goal is to raise $6,000 specifically for Education Grants, enabling us to support doctors and researchers attending retina conferences such as the Advances in Pediatric Retina Course. Your support directly helps early career doctors, junior fellows, and researchers so they can:

  • Present their findings on Coats’ Disease to leading specialists

  • Connect with mentors and expand their network of dedicated researchers

  • Gain knowledge and inspiration to drive future advancements

  • Commit their careers to fighting Coats’ Disease

Priority for the Education Grant Award is given to applicants who are presenting a paper, poster, or abstract on Coats’ Disease or other pediatric retinal disease research. By investing in the next generation of experts, you're fueling progress toward earlier diagnoses, better treatments, and, one day, a cure. 

Will you help us shape the future of Coats’ Disease research?

Previous Education Grant Recipients