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 ...