Creighton Researchers Receive $2.9 Million Glaucoma Grant

The five-year funding aims to advance a new compound that reduces eye pressure more effectively than current medications.

Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Asthma

Amber glass chemical vials and a glass dropper on a sterile white laboratory table. — Creighton University researchers received a $2.9 million NIH grant to develop an experimental compound aimed at improving glaucoma treatment efficacy. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should government agencies prioritize funding for the development of new pharmaceutical treatments?

Researchers at Creighton University have been awarded a $2.9 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a new glaucoma treatment. The project focuses on a compound designed to lower eye pressure significantly better than existing options.

Why it matters

Current treatments fail to prevent retinal nerve cell damage, leaving patients at risk of vision loss. This research aims to fill that gap and prevent blindness associated with the disease.

The new compound demonstrated a 54% reduction in eye pressure compared to the 33% efficacy of current medications. The compound's therapeutic effects persist for 52 hours per dose.

The players

Creighton University

This private Jesuit university in Omaha serves as the primary research institution for this glaucoma study.

National Institutes of Health

This federal agency is the primary medical research branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The details

The research team combined latanoprost, nitric oxide, and hydrogen sulfide to create the experimental compound. They are currently testing more than 100 versions of the formula through ongoing animal studies.

Grant funds will be distributed over the next 5 years.

Health Landscape

This development aligns with the National Eye Institute's Glaucoma Research Program, which prioritizes the discovery of treatments that prevent irreversible nerve damage. It marks a shift from solely managing eye pressure to potentially protecting retinal cell health.

Patients may eventually see new, more potent treatment options that require less frequent dosing due to the 52-hour effect duration. These developments offer potential for better long-term preservation of sight for those currently at risk of nerve damage.

The takeaway

Advancements in compound combinations suggest that more effective management of glaucoma is on the horizon. Residents should continue standard screenings with eye care professionals while these experimental treatments move through the research pipeline.