Glaucoma Research Society of Canada
Société canadienne de recherche sur le glaucome
The Glaucoma Research Society of Canada (GRSC; French: Société canadienne de recherche sur le glaucome) is a Canadian registered charity focused exclusively on funding glaucoma research. Established in 1988 by ophthalmologist Dr. Graham Trope as the Glaucoma Research Society of Ontario, it expanded nationally in 1997 and operates under the business registration number 889178695RR0001[1].

Mission and Activities
The society’s mission is to advance understanding of glaucoma through financial support for research into its causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. It prioritizes early-stage research by awarding seed grants to innovative projects reviewed by a Scientific Advisory Committee chaired by Dr. Trope[1]. Since 1989, GRSC has funded 319 research initiatives, raising over CAD $6 million[1].

Structure and Governance
GRSC functions as a peer-reviewed grant provider, relying on donor contributions and partnerships. Its grants are allocated annually through a competitive process, with proposals evaluated for scientific merit and potential impact on glaucoma care[1].

Historical Context
While the Glaucoma Research Society name has been used internationally (e.g., a Switzerland-based group established in 2005)[2], the Canadian GRSC remains distinct. The similarly named Canadian Glaucoma Society (CGS), founded in 1989, focuses on clinical care and education rather than direct research funding[3].

Impact
As Canada’s only nonprofit dedicated solely to glaucoma research funding, GRSC emphasizes translational research to bridge laboratory discoveries and clinical applications[1][4].

[1] https://www.glaucomaresearch.ca/about/about-us/ [2] https://www.glaucomasociety.org/node/6 [3] https://cgs-scg.org/cgs-history/ [4] https://www.glaucomaresearch.ca [5] https://glaucoma.org/about-us/mission-history