150dpi_MEC_GRANTSTRATEGY_DIGITAL_01.07.26 - Flipbook - Page 8
Moofields Eye Charity - Grants Strategy
Supporting the
next generation of
researchers
When Tessa Dekker, professor in
developmental cognitive neuroscience
at UCL, secured a Career Development
Award from Moorfields Eye Charity in
2019, it marked a turning point. The
funding allowed her to stay in academic
research, set up her own lab and build
the evidence needed to apply for larger
grants. Here, Professor Dekker reflects
on how this support helped her to bring
new ideas to life.
Without Moorfields Eye Charity,
I don’t think I’d be where I am today.
Their support came at a make-or-break
moment, not just for me, but for the
science I’d been working on.
Professor Tessa Dekker
“It came at a make-or-break moment, not
UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
just for me, but for the science I’d been
working on. Without the support of the
charity, my career in this form wouldn’t
“The Career Development Award allowed
have existed. And I’m not sure anyone else
me to advance my idea around sight
would have done the research we’re doing
rescue therapies and neuroplasticity,
now either.”
and to build a framework and a set
of methodologies to support them. I
Proving what’s possible
“If you want to do impactful research
in a new field, you have to propose
something bold and unique. That’s not
easy, especially when you’re trying
to distinguish yourself from other
researchers. The issue with applying for
larger grants is that you often have to be
well established in your career already.
was able to generate proof of concept,
collect pilot data and demonstrate my
independence. I could show that my ideas
were exciting and feasible.
“The award helped me to develop new
brain-based measures of sight loss,
which we now use to evaluate sight
rescue therapies. It allowed me to be a
principal investigator and to build my
leadership skills.
“As a result of this work, I was appointed
to a permanent position at UCL. The
award isn’t a guarantee of that, but it is
an incredibly important stepping stone in
people’s careers. It helped build a profile
that made me competitive when applying
for senior roles.”
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