BrightFocus Foundation Announces $25.3 million in New Research on Alzheimer’s and Vision Diseases

Nonprofit’s Science Support Five Times Greater Than Decade Ago

Clarksburg MD – BrightFocus Foundation, a leading private funder of scientific research on Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma, today announced $25.3 million in new grants, a dollar amount five times greater than it supported a decade ago. With the launching of 106 new projects around the world, it is the foundation’s tenth consecutive year-over-year increase in science funding.

“There is a fierce urgency for bold, innovative science to reverse the growing trajectory of age-related diseases. As our global population rapidly ages, we cannot hold back on research to save memories and sight,” said BrightFocus President and CEO Stacy Pagos Haller.

“This record investment in science was made possible by BrightFocus donors who, in many cases, increased their generosity during these difficult times,” Haller said, noting that a vast majority of support for BrightFocus is through small donations.

BrightFocus is a recognized leader in supporting scientists early in their careers, with 80 percent of the new awards going to kick-start their promising ideas at this critical juncture. The new grants, which will back research in 12 countries, address a full, 360 degree approach, including better understanding the root causes of the diseases, improving early detection and diagnosis, and developing new drugs and treatments.

“Thank you to the growing number of scientists who bring their potentially game-changing ideas to BrightFocus, trusting us to partner with them on the bold ‘what-ifs’ of science. Today there is so much great progress and momentum in brain and vision research – there has never been such an exciting, hopeful time for science,” said Diane Bovenkamp, PhD, BrightFocus Vice President for Scientific Affairs.

BrightFocus has supported over 275 projects, a $60 million investment, over the past three years alone. Please visit these links to learn about current Alzheimer’s, macular degeneration, and glaucoma research portfolios.

Details on the new projects, which begin July 1, will be announced upon the completion of individual agreements with the partnering institutions and scientists.