Apply for a Grant

Shaffer Grants for Innovative Glaucoma Research are $60,000, 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.

Video: How We Can Attract Diverse Research Talent to Glaucoma Science

Shaffer Grants advisor Janey L. Wiggs, MD, PhD, who helps select candidates for funding, explains why supporting young investigators with new perspectives is essential to discovering better glaucoma treatments and a cure.

  • Video Transcript
    • Video Transcript

    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. We accept proposals from all countries. Applicants will be notified about the status of their proposals by August and those approved to submit a full grant application will receive further instructions.

    Grant applicants must possess a graduate degree and must 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.

    Shaffer Grant Focus Areas

    When completing your application, please indicate which of the following six areas is the primary focus of your grant.

    • Genetics/Genomics
        • Proposals related to:
            • identifying glaucoma-related genes; or,
            • improving understanding and/or treatment for pediatric/congenital/juvenile glaucoma; or,
            • describing how genetic variants influence glaucoma risk and/or progression
    • Neuroprotection/Regeneration/Enhancement
        • Proposals related to:
            • exploring the mechanisms that lead to retinal ganglion cell (RGC) degeneration in glaucoma
            • prolonging RGC function and survival
            • encouraging RGC axon regrowth
    • Therapeutics/Drug Delivery
        • Proposals related to:
            • developing new molecules or delivery systems that improve upon current standard of care
            • engineering new mechanisms of therapeutic delivery
    • IOP Regulation/Outflow
        • Proposals related to:
            • exploring cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in aqueous humor outflow pathways
            • creation of novel preclinical models to explore intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering treatments
            • improving ways to lower IOP
    • Immunology/Glia
        • Proposals related to:
            • investigating how neuroinflammation and “support cells” like astrocytes and microglia contribute to the death of RGC
            • exploring role of glial activation in glaucomatous neurodegeneration
    • Clinical/Epidemiology
        • Proposals related to:
            • using outcomes data to determine risk factors and developing tools to accurately detect and monitor glaucoma progress
            • standardizing tools to assess glaucoma phenotypes
            • establishing consensus definitions for disease states

    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
    Spacing: small

    To submit an application, please log in or register for an account.

    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.

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

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