Owen Locke Foundation

The Owen Locke Foundation (OLF) is a philanthropic foundation focused on advancing research into macular degeneration. Through its Owen Locke Foundation Fund for Research in Macular Degeneration (OLFMD), the foundation provides milestone-driven funding to help move promising ideas from academic research toward practical products and treatments. Its mission is to accelerate the path from invention to marketable solutions that can address unmet medical needs and benefit people with macular degeneration, as well as those at risk of developing the condition.

The foundation supports projects in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, novel diagnostics that enable innovative therapies, and medical devices. Its funding aims to encourage the development of new treatment options and approaches to preventing or treating macular degeneration. The 2023 funding call offered up to $1.5 million, distributed over approximately three to four years, with applications assessed through stated eligibility, project requirements, and submission processes. The foundation also recognizes funded researchers, including recipients from institutions such as the University of California, San Francisco, the University of Tennessee Health Center, and Ohio State University.