With two decades of leadership in glaucoma research and translational science, Dr. Steel will shape the Foundation’s scientific strategy and accelerate innovation.
SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) announced today the appointment of Cynthia Steel, PhD, MBA as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), effective August 11, 2025.
Dr. Steel’s relationship with GRF spans more than a decade. She first received a Shaffer Grant for Innovative Glaucoma Research, later served as an industry partner, and most recently contributed as a member of GRF’s Research Committee.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cynthia in this new leadership role as we expand our research investment to achieve our mission of curing glaucoma and restoring vision,” said Thomas M. Brunner, President and CEO of GRF. “Her deep expertise in translational research and drug development will be critical to advancing real-world therapies for patients.”
As CSO, Dr. Steel will lead GRF’s scientific programs, direct research strategy, assess program impact, strengthen relationships with the global scientific community, and communicate complex research insights in accessible language for donors, patients, and stakeholders.
“I am so excited to join the GRF team after so many years of collaborating,” Dr. Steel said. “I am confident that my unique bench-to-bedside fluency will help shape GRF’s scientific trajectory, and I am eager to guide its vision for the future with scientific mission-driven leadership.”
An accomplished vision scientist specializing in trabecular meshwork cell biology, Dr. Steel has dedicated her career to translating laboratory discoveries into practical treatments for glaucoma. She earned her PhD in Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy at Loyola University Chicago, and later completed an Executive MBA at the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.
In the private sector, Dr. Steel held scientific leadership roles at Bausch + Lomb, Qlaris Bio, and Glaukos, where she applied her research expertise to drug development and commercialization. She will continue to serve as a contracted Science, Engineering, and Technical Advisor for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) alongside her work at GRF.
About Glaucoma Research Foundation
Founded in 1978 in San Francisco, GRF is the nation’s oldest and most experienced institution dedicated solely to curing glaucoma and restoring vision through innovative research. Learn more at www.glaucoma.org.
SOURCE Glaucoma Research Foundation
