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Glaucoma Research Foundation Awards $200,000 for Pilot Projects
Grants totalling $200,000 for Pilot Projects Awarded at Dalhousie University, Devers Eye Institute/Discoveries in Sight, and the Universities of California, Washington, and Wisconsin
SAN FRANCISCO, CA — January 11, 2006. Grants in the amount of $200,000 were awarded this month by the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF), funding five Pilot Projects at Dalhousie University, Devers Eye Institute/Discoveries in Sight, and the Universities of California, Washington, and Wisconsin, announced GRF President and CEO Thomas M. Brunner today.
“There is no more pro-active way we can observe January as Glaucoma Awareness Month,” said Brunner, “than by providing funds to ensure that cutting-edge research to improve treatment and potentially find a cure can continue. We are most grateful to our Board members and donors, whose contributions to GRF make these grants possible.”
Pilot Grant awardees included $40,000 to Mark Samuels PhD, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia to study the genetic basis of nanophthalmos in families; $40,000 to Lin Wang MD, PhD, Devers Eye Institute/Discoveries in Sight, Portland, OR to study the effect of chronic intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation on retinal, choroidal and optic nerve blood flow in a chronically increased IOP model; $40,000 to Jonathan G. Crowston MD, PhD, Hamilton Glaucoma Center, University of California San Diego to examine the neuroprotective effect of diet restriction on retinal ganglion cells; $40,000 to Thomas Reh PhD, University of Washington Seattle to study replacement of ganglion cells through regeneration; $40,000 to Mark S. Filla, PhD, University of Wisconsin Madison to study steroid induced changes in intraocular pressure (IOP)and the role of the Cytoskeleton.
“Pilot Project Grants are designed to fund initial studies that address an especially novel idea or determine the feasibility of a larger scale project,” explained Brunner. “Grants that address new, untested ideas are frequently not competitive for large public sector grants until preliminary studies indicate that the project is likely to be successful. Our Pilot Project Grants provide this bridge, and often enable the investigators to qualify for these larger funds.”
The Scientific Advisory Committee overseeing the Pilot Projects is chaired by George Cioffi, MD, Discoveries in Sight, Portland; and includes Balwantray Chauhan PhD, Dalhousie University; Anne Coleman MD, PhD, Jules Stein Eye Institute; Harry Quigley, MD, Wilmer Eye Institute; Sayoko Eileen Moroi, MD, PhD, University of Michigan; John C. Morrison, MD, Casey Eye Institute; Ernst Tamm, MD, University of Regensburg; Douglas E. Vollrath, MD, PhD, Stanford University; Arthur Weber, PhD, Michigan State University; Robert N. Weinreb, MD, University of California San Diego; Janey L. Wiggs, MD, PhD, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.