Shaffer Grants for Innovative Glaucoma Research are $55,000, one-year grants awarded to scientists and clinicians to fund projects that support new high-impact clinical, epidemiological and laboratory research based on our strategic research goals.

Researchers interested in applying for a Shaffer Grant must first submit a Preliminary Proposal for consideration.

Preliminary Proposals are accepted annually from June 1 to July 15.

Applicants will be notified about the status of their proposals by September and those approved to submit a full grant application will receive further instructions.

Grant applicants must possess a graduate degree and NOT have received a Shaffer Grant within the prior three years.

Grant recipients agree to:

  • Acknowledge Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) in papers and abstracts resulting from GRF-funded research and forward copies of each publication to GRF.
  • Provide a final progress report and pdf poster summarizing the results of the project. 
  • Submit a financial statement at the end of the grant cycle.
  • Return to Glaucoma Research Foundation any unexpended funds at the end of the grant cycle.

Failure to deliver the above documents may result in disqualification of future grant submissions.

Grants are funded in two installments and grant recipients will be required to submit a 6-month progress report prior to receiving the 2nd installment. 

Shaffer Grant Focus Areas

There are now two focus areas for Shaffer Grants, one for the physiology of glaucoma and a second to advance the genetics of glaucoma.

When completing your application, please indicate which area is the primary focus of your grant.

  1. The Physiology of Glaucoma which may include projects to:
  • Protect and restore the optic nerve.
  • Accurately detect glaucoma and monitor its progress.
  • Provide better understanding and treatment for congenital/juvenile glaucoma.
  • Understand the intraocular pressure system and develop better treatments.
  • Determine the risk factors for glaucoma damage using systematic outcomes data.
  1. The Genetics of Glaucoma (Funded through the Zander Family Research Fund) which may include projects to:
  • Identify the genes that cause glaucoma.
  • Explore new approaches to gene therapy to preserve or restore vision.

Core Values of Shaffer Grants:

  • Involve people with glaucoma in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs.
  • Encourage collaboration among experts in many fields of study.
  • Communicate research goals and results to the scientific community and the public.
  • Ensure that new glaucoma treatments maintain or improve individuals’ quality of life.
  • Encourage innovative clinical trial studies and laboratory research.
  • Develop cell and animal models of glaucoma to support research studies.
  • Facilitate and support the development of physician-scientists to advance glaucoma research.

Restrictions

  • Equipment exceeding $12,000 (waivers may be granted on a case-by-case basis)
  • Salaries for principal investigators and co-investigators
  • Projects with overt commercial applications
  • General lab supplies used for daily purposes such as swabs, gloves, etc.
  • Indirect costs, including overhead

To submit an application, please login or register for an account.

For additional information on Glaucoma Research Foundation grant programs, please email us.

Glaucoma Research Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications or applications from for profit corporations. Applications sent to our office will not be reviewed or returned.

Preliminary proposals and full grant applications submitted on this site will be discarded after one year. If you would like to retain a copy, please make sure to download from your account after submission.

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