Glaucoma Research Foundation

GRF Program Guidelines: The Shaffer Fund for Innovative Glaucoma Research

Glaucoma affects an estimated 67 million people worldwide. The Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) supports new, novel and high impact clinical, epidemiological and laboratory research. Successful projects target one or more of GRF’s Strategic Research Goals, with an emphasis on collaborative pilot projects across disciplines.

Strategic Research Goals

• Protect and restore the optic nerve.
• Accurately detect glaucoma and monitor its progression.
• Find the genes that cause glaucoma.
• Understand intraocular pressure 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 to achieve GRF goals.
• 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.

Shaffer Fund for Innovative Glaucoma Research

GRF’s Pilot Project Grant Program

The Glaucoma Research Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for grant applications. Researchers interested in applying for a grant are asked to submit a Preliminary Proposal Form. Preliminary proposals are distributed to the Scientific Advisory Committee for review annually, based upon a submission deadline the first week of August. Within a month of this deadline, successful applicants will receive a GRF grant application. To be included in the grant cycle for awards made in mid-January, formal applications must be received no later than the first week of October.

Shaffer Grants are typically awarded in the range of $15,000 to $40,000 and are awarded for one year. If an award is made, a competitive renewal application may be submitted for a second year. Funding for more than two years will not be awarded. Investigators must possess a graduate or post-doctoral degree to apply for support. We encourage interdisciplinary teams and collaborations that may lead to new glaucoma treatments. Any papers and abstracts resulting from research funded by us must acknowledge the Glaucoma Research Foundation.

Restrictions

• A piece of equipment that exceeds $12,000 (waivers may be granted on a case-by-case basis).
• Salaries for principal investigators with an established track record in glaucoma.
• Projects with overt commercial applications.
• Indirect costs.

Preliminary Proposal form

Interested researchers may download a Preliminary Proposal form (Microsoft Word document).

The completed proposal must be emailed to research@glaucoma.org by August 1, 2008.

For additional information on GRF’s grant program, please email Jennifer Rulon, Assistant to the Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Committee at the Glaucoma Research Foundation.