A Decades-Long Campaign to Protect Sight

It is 30 years since the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. (KTEF) joined the American Academy of Ophthalmology in a journey to improve the vision care of patients both across the United States and around the globe, said Academy CEO Stephen D. McLeod, MD. “At the Academy’s 2025 annual meeting we honor its steadfast commitment to supporting the care so many patients need today, and its foresight in supporting innovative educational programs that help the patients of tomorrow.”

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Brandon Mullins
58th Voluntary Campaign

Most Eminent Grand Master, Right Eminent Grand Officers and Sir Knights all, what a great year we had during the 57th Voluntary Campaign. Contributions for awards totaled $1,877,594.49. That is an increase of over 16%! The total amount received, including Trusts and Wills, topped out at $8,698,115.20, an increase of $337,648.88.

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Brandon Mullins
Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc. 2026 Career Starter Research Grant Opportunity

Career-Starter Research Grants for the next award period of July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. The Foundation has increased the grant amount to $100,000 per grant. Deadline for the receipt of the submission is Thursday January 15, 2026. Grants supported by the Knights Templar Eye Foundation are awarded to impact the eye care of infants and children. Clinical or basic research on conditions that are potentially preventable or correctable such as amblyopia, cataract, glaucoma, optic nerve hypoplasia, nystagmus, retinopathy of prematurity, and hereditary diseases that occur at birth or within early childhood, such as retinoblastoma, are encouraged.

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Brandon Mullins
Dr. Sneha Singh from University of Iowa Awarded $90,000 Knights Templar Eye Foundation Grant for Retinal Degeneration Research

Dr. Singh aims to understand the HSP90 and AIPL1-dependent folding and maturation mechanism of PDE6. The structural elucidation of the enzyme and the client-chaperone complex will provide insights into the interaction of PDE6 with the chaperones at the molecular level which will help her to understand the mechanism of PDE6 maturation process and the underlying mutations that lead to severe retinal diseases. This will aid in development of therapeutic strategies for vision disorders in children.

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Brandon Mullins
Dr. Esraa Shosha from University of Arkansas Awarded $90,000 Knights Templar Eye Foundation Grant for Retinopathy of Prematurity Research

Dr. Shosha will examine the utility of the HDAC3 inhibitor as a treatment in the mouse model of ROP with the future goal of translating her findings from the lab to the clinic. This is the first step toward a positive impact on the lives of infants with ROP. Her ultimate goal of saving infants’ sight will contribute to the KTEF’s mission to improve vision through research.

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Brandon Mullins
Dr. Miranda Scalabrino Wisconsin Eye Institute Awarded a $90,000 Knights Templar Eye Foundation Grant for Harnessing Adaptive Mechanisms to Improve Vision in Photoreceptor Degenerations

Dr. Scalabrino will modify how photoreceptors send light signal to other cells by strengthening the connections between those cells. By strengthening connections, she ensures light signal continues to be transmitted even after many photoreceptors have been lost. Overall, she will define adaptations that can be harnessed for lasting cures for childhood blindness.

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Brandon Mullins
Dr. Azam Qureshi from California Pacific Medical Center Awarded $90,000 Knights Templar Eye Foundation Grant for Pseudophakic Accommodation in Children Research

Children who have undergone cataract surgery in both eyes do not have a natural lens driving accommodation, and thus they will have less accommodative ability in either eye. This research is important to further understanding of the process of accommodation and inform the work being done to counteract presbyopia and develop accommodative intraocular lenses.

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Brandon Mullins