Research we’ve funded
Supporting research and development is one of Glaucoma UK’s four strategic pillars. We provide funding for high-quality research into glaucoma prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.
We’re proud of our track record, and have funded developments in areas such as finding new potential therapies for glaucoma, improving outcomes for glaucoma surgery and making visual field tests better for patients and clinicians.
We’re investing in monitoring the impact of the research we fund, and hope to share new insights soon.
Our Research Showcase – a summary
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) this year – for the first time – featured a Research Showcase. This new session brought together researchers funded by Glaucoma UK, who gave an overview of their projects and what they are hoping to achieve.
Help make a difference
Glaucoma UK wouldn’t be able to continue to fund research without the generosity of our supporters. Thank you to everyone who helps us in our fight against glaucoma sight loss.
Recently funded projects
First-ever Pitts Crick Career Fellowship
We awarded our first-ever Pitts Crick Career Development Fellowship to Dr Giovanni Montesano. Giovanni, a consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, was awarded just over £420,000 for his project looking at developing a “digital twin” for glaucoma, which will help patients and clinicians understand an individual’s condition and make better-informed decisions about care and treatment. Find out more about Giovanni’s project here.
2024 UKEGS Grant
We awarded our 2024 UKEGS grant to Dr Bledi Petriti, an optometrist based at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Glaucoma UK and UKEGS awarded him £49,993 for his project looking at improving the function of mitochondria in people with a particular type of normal tension glaucoma. Find out more about the 2024 UKEGS grant award here. This follows on from work we previously funded – see below.
2024 Joint Award with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists
Having received exceptionally high-quality applications, we awarded two grants in our 2024 joint award with the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. Intriguingly, the projects are both looking at similar themes: developing new potential treatments to improve drainage through the trabecular meshwork in the eye. The recipients were Dr Victoria McGilligan at Ulster University, who is looking at an antibody therapy to reduce inflammation, and Dr Lisa Hill at the University of Birmingham, who is investigating scarring. Both grants were for just under £100,000. You can read more about their projects in our Winter 2025 edition of Insight.
2024 Open Call Grant
Our 2024 Open Call grant was awarded to Professor David Crabb and Dr Giovanni Ometto at City, University of London. They will be looking at visual field changes in people with angle closure glaucoma, re-analysing data from a landmark trial investigating angle closure glaucoma. Their project is worth £43,000, and you can read more about the 2024 Open Call grant award here.
Updates from live projects
We keep in touch with our researchers while they’re carrying out their projects, including regular interim reports and meeting directly to learn more about progress.
In 2021 we funded our first-ever PhD studentship. The student is working at Cardiff University, in Dr Ben Mead’s lab. The group are looking at whether exosomes (small “bubbles” released from cells) can protect the nerve cells sending the signals from the eye to the brain. Learn more in this Insight article.
We’re also part-funders of the UK National Eye Health and Hearing Study, which is seeking to identify undiagnosed eye and hearing disorders across the UK. By having more accurate prevalence information, it’ll be easier for the NHS to plan and manage everyone needing treatment and monitoring. Find out more in this article.
Recently completed projects
When researchers finish their projects, we get in touch to learn more about what they’ve learnt and the difference that might make to people living with glaucoma. We’re always keen to make sure the research we fund has a real impact.
In 2017, we awarded £40,000 to Professor David (Ted) Garway-Heath at University College, London. Ted and his PhD student Dr Bledi Petriti were investigating some of the genes involved in normal tension glaucoma, focusing on mitochondria. These power-packs in each of our cells seem to be impaired in people with glaucoma, especially those with NTG. The work was published in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine in June 2024. You can read a summary of the research project here.
Another project we funded was carried out by Professor James Morgan at Cardiff University. He was investigating retinal ganglion cells, which send the signals from the eye to the brain, and are damaged in glaucoma. He wondered whether microglia (the “watchguards” of the central nervous system) might be contributing to the damage. What he found was the complete opposite of his predictions – and has implications for cancer care! Learn about James Morgan’s project here.
Join Glaucoma UK today!
Most of the articles on this page were published first in our membership magazine, Insight. If you become a member of Glaucoma UK, you’ll receive this quarterly magazine, packed full with articles about research, managing your glaucoma and the activity of the charity.
More about our research and funding
Digital glaucoma support groups
Our monthly digital glaucoma support groups regularly focus on research. To find out about and register for upcoming webinars, visit our Events page. Recordings of past events can be found here.
First-ever research showcase
We hosted our first-ever research showcase in March. Investigators on recently funded projects were invited to speak at our AGM and Annual Lectures, giving our members and researchers an opportunity to get to know one another.
Be part of research
Want to get involved in research? We list projects on our Take part in research page.
Keep updated
Stay up-to-date by signing up for our newsletter, Focus. We will keep you informed with cutting-edge research updates, insights, and special opportunities. Sign up to our newsletter here.