The National Eye Institute (NEI), in collaboration with other National Institutes of Health (NIH) Institutes and Centers (ICs), plans to release a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to support research focused on advancing vision health equity through multi-level interventions and community-engaged research. The primary goal of this initiative is to address disparities in vision health outcomes by developing, testing, and implementing interventions across multiple levels, including individual, community, and healthcare system levels. Projects are expected to leverage community engagement strategies to ensure that interventions are contextually relevant, culturally appropriate, and sustainable.

The NOFO will support research projects that identify and address social determinants of health, structural barriers, and systemic inequities contributing to vision health disparities. It encourages interdisciplinary approaches that integrate expertise from vision science, public health, social and behavioral sciences, healthcare delivery, and community organizations. Proposals should demonstrate a strong evidence-based approach and outline measurable outcomes to assess intervention effectiveness.

Eligible applicants include state and local governments, Native American tribal governments and organizations, independent school districts, public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status, small businesses, and other for-profit organizations. Collaborative efforts among diverse stakeholders, including academic institutions, healthcare systems, and community-based organizations, are strongly encouraged to maximize the reach and impact of funded projects.

The anticipated total program funding is approximately $7,000,000, with an estimated six awards to be distributed. The maximum award ceiling per project is $1,000,000. Projects are expected to focus on scalable and sustainable solutions that can be translated into practice to improve vision health outcomes among underserved populations.

The NOFO is expected to be published in winter 2025, with an estimated application deadline in early spring 2025. Award notifications are anticipated by December 1, 2025, and funded projects are expected to commence on December 1, 2025. This advance notice is intended to provide potential applicants with sufficient time to establish collaborations, design robust research proposals, and prepare comprehensive applications