We Support New Ideas
Our mission:
to fund new ideas at their inception
The Society’s independently judged, peer-reviewed research grants are highly valued by researchers and considered important and prestigious within the scientific community.
The Society has funded research projects by most of Canada’s top glaucoma researchers – doctors and scientists interested in finding new treatments and in preventing blindness from glaucoma. These highly respected researchers are recognized across Canada and internationally.
Their research includes:
- seeking to protect good nerve cells in the eye and repair damaged ones
- searching for genes related to glaucoma
- improving blood flow to the eye, and
- making glaucoma surgery easier for the patient.
80% of funds raised go directly to researchers
Sound governance, a volunteer board, and low administration costs ensure that more than 80% of funds raised by the Society go directly to Canadian researchers.
The Glaucoma Research Society of Canada is the only Canadian non-profit organization solely dedicated to funding glaucoma research. Since 1989, it has raised more than two million dollars in support of 150 research projects. The Society funds 10 to 15% of all independent glaucoma research in Canada.
2012 Research Grants
Researchers received $122,000 in research grants for the following projects:
- Determining the Biomechanic Response of Optic Nerve Head Glial Cells to Combined Stretch and Compression – Kenneth Olsen, PhD Candidate, Dr. John G. Flanagan, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
- Studying the Potential Mechanism of Intraocular Pressure Modulation by Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty – Dr. Cindy Hutnik, Dr. Sunil K. Parapuram, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, London, Ontario
- Studying the Use of a Scleral Mounting Device for the Continuous Monitoring of Intraocular Pressure (IOP) – Aphrodite Dracopoulos, PhD Candidate, Dr. John G. Flanagan, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
- Investigating Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation as a Treatment for Glaucoma – Dr. Mark Lesk, Maisoneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, Montreal, Quebec
- Studying the Influence of Retinal Astrocytes on Retinal Ganglion Cell Survival – Dr. Jeremy Sivak, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
- Determining if Prostaglandin Glaucoma Drugs Increase Lymphatic Drainage from the Eye – Dr. Neeru Gupta, Dr. Yeni Yücel, St. Michael’s Hospital, Toronto, Ontario
- Determining if Sirtuin 3 Prevents Cell Death in Glaucoma – Dr. Joanne E. Nash, University of Toronto, Scarborough, Ontario
- The Nova Scotia Discus Study: Evaluating Clinician Performance in Assessing Optic Disc Images – Dr. Paul Artes, Dr. Neil O’Leary, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Dr. Alexander Ball’s 2009 Lab Group
Your donations have funded numerous scientists who have gained international respect and reputations in advancing research into glaucoma.
The next decade should see some important breakthroughs including methods to maintain and possibly even repair damaged optic nerves in glaucoma.
Your support is essential to continue this valuable and much needed research.
Research Grant Applications
Researchers into glaucoma from across Canada apply annually for funding. Independent peers review the applications under the guidance of the Scientific Advisory Committee of renowned ophthalmologists and scientists from across the country. The Committee makes funding recommendations to the Society's Board of Directors.