Basic Organization Information
Glaucoma Research Foundation
- Also Known As:
-
GRF
- Physical Address:
-
San Francisco, CA
94108
- EIN:
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94-2495035
- Web URL:
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www.glaucoma.org
- Blog URL:
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www.facebook.com/gla...
- NTEE Category:
-
G Disease, Disorders, Medical Disciplines
-
G41 Eye Diseases, Blindness and Vision Impairments
-
H Medical Research
-
H12 Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution
- Year Founded:
-
1978
- Ruling Year:
-
1978
- How This Organization Is Funded:
-
Individuals
-
Corporations
-
Bequests
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) is to
prevent vision loss from glaucoma by investing in innovative research,
education, and support with the ultimate goal of finding a cure.
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Impact Statement from Nonprofit
Glaucoma Research Foundation funds innovative research and provides educational materials about glaucoma to people affected by this blinding disease. Our donors have contributed $50
million dollars to this cause since 1978. While we do not conduct research ourselves, we
work closely with the research community to make progress towards a cure for
glaucoma.
Successful research
grants funded by the Glaucoma Research Foundation include the Collaborative
Normal Tension Glaucoma Study, the first controlled clinical trial to establish
that lowering eye pressure preserves vision. Another research grant identified
one of the first genes responsible for glaucoma.
Today a major
multi-year collaborative study, Catalyst For a Cure (CFC), is redefining
how glaucoma research is conducted. The CFC research scientists -- specialists
in multiple fields including genetics, nerve regeneration, and neurodevelopment -- work in real-time
collaboration to understand neuronal loss in glaucoma and identify targets for
intervention.
Revenue and Expenses
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Financial Statements
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Chief Executive
Mr. Thomas M. Brunner
Term:
Since
July
2003
Chief Executive Profile:
Tom Brunner joined GRF in 2003. He has more than 30 years experience as a senior executive in the ophthalmic laser industry. Under Tom's leadership GRF has strengthened its finances and funded innovative research to find a cure while providing education and support for those affected by glaucoma.
CEO/Executive Director Statement:
At Glaucoma
Research Foundation, our mission is inspired by the millions of people living
with glaucoma and the thousands of individuals who, each year, donate vital
funding to support research toward a cure for this blinding disease.
Glaucoma affects
people all over the world. It is the leading cause of preventable blindness. Four million people in the United
States have the disease, while almost 60 million worldwide are affected by
glaucoma. The research that you help make possible through your support is
critically important to finding better treatments and ultimately a cure.
Since our founding,
GRF has invested over $48 million in glaucoma research and patient
education. Each month, we fulfill
over 800 requests for glaucoma information from individuals concerned about
this insidious disease. We do not receive any funding from government sources,
which makes private philanthropy essential to advance our mission.
With continued
research aided by generous contributions from our donors, we are confident that
we can advance glaucoma research even more rapidly toward the cure we all seek.
Officers for Fiscal Year
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Highest Paid Employees & Their Compensation
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Program:
Program Overview
- Budget:
-
$2,461,783
- Category:
-
- Population Served:
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General Public/Unspecified
Program Description:
Core programs include:
(1) Aggressively stimulate and support research that is innovative and collaborative and has breakthrough potential through its Shaffer Fund for Innovative Glaucoma Research and funding its Catalyst For a Cure research consortium. Research funds are leveraged to bring outstanding new scientists into glaucoma research while also finding critical resource gaps that slow progress.
(2) Assist patients and their families in coping with glaucoma by providing free resources, such as the booklet "Understanding and Living with Glaucoma", a quarterly newsletter, "Gleams," a toll-free information and support line, and a website that is a model of accessibility for the vision impaired, www.glaucoma.org.
Program Long-Term Success:
Overall, awarded $1.24 million in grant funds, including:
a. Catalyst For a Cure (CFC) research consortium.
The overriding goal of CFC is to speed the pace of discovery for a cure by departing from the old academic model of a lone scientist working in isolation by bringing together four uniquely skilled laboratories from four different distinguished universities to work in real time collaboration. In this past year the CFC team has seen the completion of several important studies including our first interventional trials. These brought initial validation of several of the hypotheses that we proposed in 2006 and even earlier. In addition, we have generated new findings and new tools, many of which offer promise for therapeutic interventions.
In 2007, the CFC team generated the following findings:
i. Retinal ganglion cells change early and slowly, making the cells atrophy, both in size and in the expression of key functional genes required to maintain their connection to the brain. This process likely involves oxidative damage -- antioxidants may have helpful effects in promoting cell survival in the retina.
ii. Microglia are involved in the early stages of glaucoma (perhaps contributing to the slow progressive atrophy of retinal ganglion cells), as well as in the late stages, perhaps mediating the spread of the disease from focal to widespread.
iii. Blocking pressure receptor molecules protect ganglion cells.
Program Short-Term Success:
Program Success Monitored by:
Program Success Examples:
Funding Needs
Charitable contributions to support glaucoma research and education.
Request for In-Kind Contributions