NIH funding by institute · Fiscal year 2026
National Eye Institute (NEI) Grants and Funding
Reviewed by Dr. Meng ZhaoLast reviewed October 26, 2026Data refreshed October 16, 2026Editorial standards
NEI administered $639.0M in fiscal year 2026 across 1,333 award records to 164 institutions with $10M or more in NIH funding, up 1.8% from FY2025. Johns Hopkins University received the most, 3.9% of that total.
FY2026 closed on September 30, 2026, but NIH keeps posting that year's awards to RePORTER for several weeks. FY2026 figures reflect records available on October 16, 2026 and may rise slightly at the next refresh.
FY2026 NEI funding
$639.0M
+1.8% vs FY2025
Award records
1,333
Institutions funded
164
Recipients with $10M+ in NIH funding
Open or upcoming NOFOs
77
NEI as lead or participating institute
Top NEI-funded institutions, FY2026
| # | Institution | NEI FY2026 | vs FY2025 | Awards | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBaltimore, MD | $25.1M | +4.2% | 55 | 3.9% |
| 2 | Jaeb Center for Health Research, Inc.Tampa, FL | $24.8M | +30.9% | 3 | 3.9% |
| 3 | University of California, Los AngelesLos Angeles, CA | $18.6M | +61.6% | 31 | 2.9% |
| 4 | Stanford UniversityStanford, CA | $17.9M | −26.6% | 40 | 2.8% |
| 5 | University of WashingtonSeattle, WA | $17.4M | +21.6% | 32 | 2.7% |
| 6 | University of California, San FranciscoSan Francisco, CA | $17.0M | −6.7% | 45 | 2.7% |
| 7 | Duke UniversityDurham, NC | $15.8M | +8.5% | 39 | 2.5% |
| 8 | University of California, IrvineIrvine, CA | $15.3M | +3.8% | 31 | 2.4% |
| 9 | University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA | $15.0M | +2.4% | 27 | 2.3% |
| 10 | Schepens Eye Research InstituteBoston, MA | $14.1M | +2.1% | 26 | 2.2% |
| 11 | University of MichiganAnn Arbor, MI | $13.7M | +36.0% | 28 | 2.1% |
| 12 | The Ohio State UniversityColumbus, OH | $13.2M | +7.8% | 18 | 2.1% |
| 13 | University of PittsburghPittsburgh, PA | $12.3M | +33.9% | 20 | 1.9% |
| 14 | University of UtahSalt Lake City, UT | $11.8M | +12.4% | 28 | 1.9% |
| 15 | Massachusetts Eye and Ear InfirmaryBoston, MA | $10.9M | +19.0% | 20 | 1.7% |
| 16 | Boston Children's HospitalBoston, MA | $10.8M | +6.3% | 21 | 1.7% |
| 17 | University of California San DiegoLa Jolla, CA | $10.5M | −6.1% | 25 | 1.6% |
| 18 | Washington University in St. LouisSaint Louis, MO | $10.2M | +12.7% | 24 | 1.6% |
| 19 | Oregon Health & Science UniversityPortland, OR | $9.9M | −22.5% | 22 | 1.6% |
| 20 | University of RochesterRochester, NY | $9.7M | −1.8% | 21 | 1.5% |
| 21 | Columbia University Health SciencesNew York, NY | $9.1M | −9.0% | 21 | 1.4% |
| 22 | University of California, DavisDavis, CA | $8.8M | −9.7% | 18 | 1.4% |
| 23 | University of HoustonHouston, TX | $8.6M | −24.0% | 16 | 1.3% |
| 24 | Wayne State UniversityDetroit, MI | $8.5M | +4.1% | 19 | 1.3% |
| 25 | University of IowaIowa City, IA | $8.5M | +0.3% | 18 | 1.3% |
Showing the 25 largest of 164 institutions with NEI funding.
Open and upcoming NEI funding opportunities
NOFOs led by NEI first, then those NEI participates in, soonest due date first. Browse every NIH NOFO.
- NEI Translational Research Program for Therapeutics (R61/R33 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PAR-28-072 · R61, R33 · opens soon
Next due Feb 16, 2027
Next due Feb 16, 2027
- NEI Research Grant for Vision-Related Secondary Data Analysis (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PAR-25-357 · R21
Next due Feb 16, 2027
- Lasker Clinical Research Scholar's Program (Si2/R00 Clinical Trial Optional)
PAR-27-076 · SI2, R00 · led by NIH
Next due Nov 6, 2026
- Development of Candidate Medical Countermeasures (MCMs) and Technologies Against Radiological/Nuclear or Chemical Threats (U01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
RFA-AI-27-014 · U01 · led by NIAID
Next due Nov 9, 2026
- Collaborative Program Grant for Interdisciplinary Teams (RM1 Clinical Trial Optional)
PAR-27-003 · RM1 · led by NIGMS
Next due Nov 17, 2026
- Emerging Global Leader Award (K43 Independent Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PAR-24-296 · K43 · led by FIC
Next due Dec 3, 2026
- Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Transition Award (Parent F99/K00 - Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PA-27-037 · F99, K00 · led by OD
Next due Dec 8, 2026
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Predoctoral Fellowship (Parent F31)
PA-25-422 · F31 · led by NIH
Next due Dec 8, 2026
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship (Parent F32)
PA-25-423 · F32 · led by NIH
Next due Dec 8, 2026
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions Without NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)
PA-25-425 · F30 · led by NIH
Next due Dec 8, 2026
- Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Individual Fellowship for Students at Institutions with NIH-Funded Institutional Predoctoral Dual-Degree Training Programs (Parent F30)
PA-25-426 · F30 · led by NIH
Next due Dec 8, 2026
- NIH Support for Conferences and Scientific Meetings (Parent R13 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)
PA-25-080 · R13 · led by NIH
Next due Dec 12, 2026
- NIH, CDC and FDA Small Business Innovation Research Grant (Parent SBIR [R43/R44] Clinical Trial Optional)
PA-27-100 · R43, R44 · led by NIH
Next due Jan 5, 2027
- NIH Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase IIB Strategic Breakthrough Award (Parent [R44] Clinical Trial Optional)
PA-27-101 · R44 · led by NIH
Next due Jan 5, 2027
Showing 15 of 77. See all NEI NOFOs.
Recent NEI awards
The newest NEI award notices among the institutions above, each linked to its NIH RePORTER record.
- Determinants of tear film lipid layer stability and modulation in evaporative dry eye disease (opens NIH RePORTER)
Michigan State University · 1R56EY037392-01A1 · NEI · Notice Sep 22, 2026
$1.2MR56
- Inflammatory mechanisms that regulate neuronal regeneration (opens NIH RePORTER)
University of Michigan · 1R56EY037725-01A1 · NEI · Notice Sep 19, 2026
$1.2MR56
- Planning a lighting-centered home modification trial to prevent falls in the visually impaired (opens NIH RePORTER)
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine · 1R34EY038267-01A1 · NEI · Notice Sep 19, 2026
$479KR34
- The UPenn iPOWER Resident-investigator Program (opens NIH RePORTER)
University of Pennsylvania · 1R38EY037093-01A1 · NEI · Notice Sep 19, 2026
$344KR38
- Epigenetic regulation of optic nerve head astrocyte reactivity in glaucoma (opens NIH RePORTER)
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of CWRU · 1R01EY039258-01 · NEI · Notice Sep 18, 2026
$570KR01
- Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) (R38) (opens NIH RePORTER)
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary · 1R38EY037094-01A1 · NEI · Notice Sep 18, 2026
$266KR38
- Stimulating Access to Research in Residency (StARR) Blended Research-Intensive Training Experience (BRITE) in Ophthalmology (opens NIH RePORTER)
University of Michigan · 1R38EY039384-01 · NEI · Notice Sep 18, 2026
$210KR38
- Interface of immunity and fibrosis in ocular conditions (opens NIH RePORTER)
University of Missouri · 1R56EY039318-01 · NEI · Notice Sep 17, 2026
$1.3MR56
- CRCNS Research Proposal: Optimal Information processing via cell types (opens NIH RePORTER)
New York University · 1R01EY040100-01 · NEI · Notice Sep 17, 2026
$1.2MR01
- Structurally Programmed Microfluidic Bioreactors to Manufacture Retinal Organoids for Regenerative Medicine (opens NIH RePORTER)
University of California, Irvine · 1R01EY038193-01A1 · NEI · Notice Sep 17, 2026
$741KR01
Looking for a postdoc in vision and eye research?
See how many vision and eye research labs received a new NEI R01 or R00 in the last three months, by month, state, and institution.
Newly funded vision and eye research labsQuestions about NEI funding
- How much does NEI fund?
- In fiscal year 2026, NEI administered $639.0M across 1,333 award records to the 164 institutions on this page. These are the recipients with $10M or more in total NIH funding, so the figure is a large share of NEI's extramural awards but not its full budget.
- Which institutions get the most NEI funding?
- Johns Hopkins University ($25.1M), Jaeb Center for Health Research, Inc. ($24.8M), University of California, Los Angeles ($18.6M) led NEI funding in FY2026.
- How do I find an open NEI funding opportunity?
- This page lists open and upcoming NOFOs where NEI is the lead or a participating institute, with the next due date. Most investigator-initiated applications go through the NIH parent announcements instead, and are assigned to an institute after submission; contact a NEI program officer before you apply to check fit.
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