Research to Prevent Blindness (RPB) has launched the RPB/David L. Epstein Career Advancement Award in Glaucoma Research sponsored by Aerie Pharmaceuticals. There are 2 awards, one in 2022 and one in 2023, that will provide $150,000 each to outstanding scientists focusing on glaucoma research who have already received their first independent federal National Institutes of Health grant (the R01 grant) and are collecting new and novel data to apply for a second R01.

The time between R01s is a critical gap in the funding pipeline, RPB’s scientific advisory panel determined, which led to the creation of the new award in memory of David L. Epstein, MD (1943-2014). Dr. Epstein, a glaucoma researcher who served on RPB’s grant review committees, went on to co-found Aerie and served as its chief innovation officer.

“We are so pleased to partner with Aerie Pharmaceuticals on this important award to further glaucoma research,” said Brian F. Hofland, PhD, president of Research to Prevent Blindness. “Organizationally, we are located at opposite ends of the research pipeline — from RPB at the basic research end to Aerie at the forefront of clinical research and application — but we’ve come together to support vision researchers in a critical period in their scientific careers because we both acknowledge that excellent science leads to effective treatments.”