Grand Commandery visit with U of M's Dr. Steffi Daniel


Knights Templar Eye Foundation Starter Grant Awarded for

Pioneering Research into Juvenile Open-Angle Glaucoma


MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — On Tuesday, September 9, 2026, state officers of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Minnesota had the distinct honor and pleasure of visiting Steffi Daniel, PhD, at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Daniel is a distinguished recipient of the competitive Knights Templar Eye Foundation (KTEF) Starter Grant, awarded in support of her groundbreaking ophthalmic research.

Dr. Daniel’s grant-funded project, titled “Therapeutic targeting of fibulin-3 driven trabecular meshwork
dysfunction in juvenile open-angle glaucoma,” focuses on uncovering molecular mechanisms and
developing innovative targeted therapies for pediatric and juvenile glaucoma. Juvenile open-angle glaucoma is a rare and aggressive form of glaucoma that can cause early and severe vision loss in children and young adults. Dr. Daniel’s research aims to restore healthy outflow pathways in the eye, preventing optic nerve damage and preserving sight.

The Knights Templar Eye Foundation is the premier philanthropic arm of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, committed to its humanitarian mission: “To improve vision through research, education, and supporting access to care.” Through its nationally recognized Career-Starter Research Grants, the Foundation invests in promising early-stage investigators whose cutting-edge work has the potential to eliminate preventable blindness in infants and youth.

“The Grand Commandery of Minnesota is exceptionally proud to witness firsthand the remarkable caliber of scientific inquiry taking place right here at the University of Minnesota,” stated Clinton Christensen, Grand Commander of Knights Templar of Minnesota. “Supporting dedicated researchers like Dr. Daniel embodies the core tenets of our Order and ensures that our philanthropic contributions translate directly into life-changing medical breakthroughs for children.”

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