For more than 40 years, Glaucoma Research Foundation has been the premiere organization in glaucoma research funding.

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

Strategic Research Goals

• Protect and restore the optic nerve.
• Accurately detect glaucoma and monitor its progress.
• Provide better understanding and treatment for congenital/juvenile glaucoma.
• Find the genes responsible for glaucoma.
• Understand the intraocular pressure system and develop better treatments.
• Determine the risk factors for glaucoma damage using systematic outcomes data.

Core Values

• 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.

Researchers interested in applying for a Shaffer Grant must first submit a Preliminary Proposal. The online application is accepted annually from June 1 until July 15 and can be accessed during that time frame here https://glaucoma.smapply.org/. 

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, not have received a Shaffer Grant within the prior three years, and agree to acknowledge Glaucoma Research Foundation in papers and abstracts resulting from Glaucoma Research Foundation funded research.

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

For additional information on Glaucoma Research Foundation grant programs, please email us at research@glaucoma.org.