Share
A “transformative” AU$50 million philanthropic gift will see a partnership between the Snow Medical Research Foundation and the University of Sydney launch the Snow Vision Accelerator programme, aimed at developing novel therapies for glaucoma.
Pictured: L-R: Professor Jean Yang, Glaucoma Australia President Maree O’Brien, Tom Snow, Professor Jonathan Crowston, Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott AO and Dr Katharina Bell.
The Snow Vision Accelerator programme will build on the work of world-renowned ophthalmologist Professor Jonathan Crowston.
It will bring together leading Australian and international research groups to develop innovative treatments that enhance the ability of optic nerve cells to withstand injury and survive, addressing a pressing unmet need for effective therapies.
The funding commitment by the Snow family is the single largest philanthropic investment in vision science in Australia.
Terry Snow AM, who died last year, was an Australian businessman, entrepreneur, and philanthropist based in Canberra. Together with his brother, George Snow, he set up the philanthropic Snow Foundation in 1991.
Backing High-Risk, High-Reward Projects
Glaucoma affects 80 million people globally,1 including over 380,000 Australians.2
Often referred to as the ‘sneak thief of sight’, people can irreversibly lose significant peripheral vision before they are even aware that they have glaucoma.
Current treatments focus solely on lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) leaving age-related vulnerabilities and optic nerve resilience largely unaddressed.
Chair of the Snow Medical Research Foundation, Tom Snow, described the philanthropic venture as a “transformative investment in ophthalmology in Australia, and one of the largest worldwide”.
He said the programme, designed in partnership with the University of Sydney, aimed to “revolutionise how we treat glaucoma and prevent blindness for millions of people worldwide”.
“Our family backs high-risk, high-reward science that addresses the most pressing global health challenges.
“This builds on Terry Snow’s vision to deliver real-world solutions at an accelerated pace by backing world-class researchers here in Australia.
“This is about doing philanthropy differently – by giving the long-term stability and resources to the best teams needed to translate research to the bedside. It is a commitment to excellence, global collaboration, urgency and intellectual vitality,” Mr Snow said.
This is about doing philanthropy differently – by giving the long-term stability and resources to the best teams needed to translate research to the bedside.
A Commitment to Making A Difference
University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Scott extended his “heartfelt thanks to the Snow family and Snow Medical Research Foundation for enabling this innovative research and commercialisation”.
“Built on the outstanding research skills and knowledge of the world-renowned ophthalmologist Professor Jonathan Crowston and his team at the University, this partnership in the Snow Vison Accelerator shares our deep commitment to outstanding scientific endeavour and to making a tangible difference to the millions of people affected by glaucoma.
“Together we’ll work to create a future free from its tenacious grip,” Prof Scott said.
Prof Crowston emphasised the significance of this program.
“This Accelerator will address a critical gap in glaucoma research, targeting the age-related vulnerabilities of the optic nerve. With this funding, we can explore transformative therapies that aim to prevent vision loss by stopping the disease from progressing,” he said.
“This programme is game-changing because it addresses the unmet need for drugs that increase nerve resilience, a field where such treatments currently do not exist. Its unique scale and focus integrate teams across biological research, data science, drug development, and clinical trials, all working towards a common product-oriented goal.”
In addition to advancing drug development, the programme aims to build Australia’s reputation as a global leader in eye research and to attract additional funding from government, philanthropy, and the private sector.
Ophthalmologist Professor Ian Constable AO, a key advisor for the Snow Vision Accelerator said he was thrilled with the new programme.
“This partnership between the University of Sydney and the Snow Medical Research Foundation is an innovative model for philanthropy that will drive tangible outcomes for people experiencing glaucoma. We see a future with both outstanding scientific breakthroughs and efficient clinical translation,” Prof Constable said.
The programme will begin in July this year.
References
- The University of Sydney, Snow family’s $50m partnership to transform glaucoma treatment (media release, 17 Feb 2025), available at: sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2025/02/17/snow-familys-50m-partnership-to-transform-glaucoma-treatment.html [accessed Feb 2025].
- Evaluate, Evaluate economic impact report commissioned by Glaucoma Australia, 28 March 2023.
This article has been republished courtesy of Mivision
An Australian study found that visual field testing for glaucoma can be quite stressful and physically uncomfortable, but small changes like allowing breaks and improving patient education could make the experience better.
A study from China suggests that high levels of 'good' cholesterol (HDL) may increase the risk of glaucoma, while higher levels of 'bad' cholesterol (LDL) and triglycerides could lower the risk, challenging traditional views on cholesterol and eye health.
Researchers at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) are conducting a project to find out about peoples’ priorities when choosing between different types of surgery.