Cynthia Steel, PhD, MBA, appointed as Chief Scientific Officer of The Glaucoma Research Foundation

The Glaucoma Research Foundation (GRF) announced it has appointed Cynthia Steel, PhD, MBA, as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO).

Steel and the GRF have a relationship spanning over a decade.¹ Steel first received a Shaffer Grant for Innovative Glaucoma Research in 2014, which Steel noted as a “turning point in [her] career” and that the “support really was critical in shaping the path that led [her] here today.”²

The grant honors Robert N. Shaffer, MD, who launched the Glaucoma Research Foundation, and provides $55,000 in seed money for collaborative projects that target one or more of the foundation’s strategic research goals.

"I am so excited to join the GRF team after so many years of collaborating," 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."

Thomas M. Brunner, president and CEO of GRF, commented on Steel’s appointment, saying, "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. Her deep expertise in translational research and drug development will be critical to advancing real-world therapies for patients."

In her position as CSO, 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.¹

Steel received her PhD in cell biology, neurobiology, and anatomy from Loyola University Chicago and received postdoctoral funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs and researched mechanisms underlying elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma.

In 2016 Steel joined Bausch + Lomb as a Medical Science Liaison, which she noted as a time that “piqued her interest in understanding the business of pharmaceuticals.” In 2020, she combined her interests in medical affairs and laboratory research by joining the startup company Qlaris Bio as their Director of Translational Research and Medical Affairs.³

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.

References:

1. The Glaucoma Research Foundation appoints Cynthia Steel, PhD, as Chief Scientific Officer. Published August 13, 2025. Accessed August 14, 2025. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/glaucoma-research-foundation-appoints-cynthia-steel-phd-as-chief-scientific-officer-302529493.html

2. Cynthia Steel LinkedIn page. Accessed August 14, 2025. https://www.linkedin.com/posts/cynthiasteel_glaucomaresearch-glaucoma360-cureglaucoma-activity-7293796861281271808-Ovl8/

3. Bench to Boardroom Podcast. GRF. Accessed August 14, 2025. https://www.benchtoboard.com/about