Trending...
- City Shares Information on Upcoming Street Closures for Long Beach Marathon - 115
- City of Long Beach Provides Updates on Ongoing and Planned Peninsula Projects and Coastal Protection Efforts - 109
- City of Long Beach Activates Sandbag Distribution Sites Ahead of Impacts Related to Hurricane Rachel - 106
Competitive National Eye Institute funding provides external validation of ClearSight's proposed scientific program and supports a one-year investigation of a preservative-free ophthalmic formulation in acute infectious conjunctivitis and epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.
DALLAS - Californer -- ClearSight Therapeutics, Inc. Receives NIH SBIR Phase I Award for Research in Acute Infectious Conjunctivitis and EKC
Competitive federal award provides external scientific validation of the proposed research program and funds a disciplined path to new evidence
DALLAS, September 22nd, 2026 - ClearSight Therapeutics, Inc., a Dallas-based eye-care company, today announced that it has received a $306,852 Small Business Innovation Research Phase I award from the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. The competitive award marks a major scientific milestone for ClearSight and supports a one-year investigational research program involving a preservative-free ophthalmic formulation in acute infectious conjunctivitis and epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.
The project, award number R43EY039140, runs from September 15, 2026 through August 31, 2027. ClearSight Chief Scientific Officer Nuria Jimenez, PhD, PMP, will serve as principal investigator. The Notice of Award identifies the project as research and development and states that it does not support an NIH-defined clinical trial.
Why this award matters
NIH funding decisions follow rigorous peer review of scientific and technical merit and a second-level assessment of mission relevance. Reviewers consider the importance of the proposed research, the rigor and feasibility of the approach, and whether the investigators and organization have the expertise and resources to carry out the work. For ClearSight, the award provides meaningful external validation of the proposed scientific program and creates an accountable path for turning a promising research premise into credible evidence. It does not predetermine the results; it makes the disciplined work to generate those results possible.
More on The Californer
"This award is a defining milestone for ClearSight. Following competitive review of the scientific and technical merit of our proposed work, NIH support gives us both meaningful external validation and non-dilutive capital to build the evidence base with rigor. It is a powerful vote of confidence in the importance of the question, the strength of the research plan, and our team's ability to execute."
Patrick Smale, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
"The questions at the center of this program matter to patients, clinicians, and the broader eye-care community. NIH support gives us the opportunity to investigate them with the rigor they deserve, generate credible data, and let the evidence guide what comes next. I am proud to lead this work alongside our team and collaborators."
Nuria Jimenez, PhD, PMP, Chief Scientific Officer and Principal Investigator
"I am excited and grateful for this initial support from the National Eye Institute, which represents an important step in advancing our innovation toward clinical development. This funding will enable us to generate the rigorous data needed to further validate the technology and its potential to address important unmet needs in topical ocular therapy. As a co-inventor and drug developer, I am particularly encouraged by the opportunity to translate this innovation into a product where patient safety, efficacy, and meaningful clinical benefit remain our highest priorities."
Suchismita Acharya, PhD, Co-Founder, Co-Inventor and Board Member
The SBIR program supports research and development by eligible small businesses. Beyond providing non-dilutive capital, the award gives ClearSight a structured milestone period through August 2027 and an accountable framework for translating a scientific premise into data. The work will proceed under a defined research plan, milestones, and federal reporting obligations.
More on The Californer
Important regulatory context
ClearSight's NIH-funded research program will study preservative-free ophthalmic formulation in acute infectious conjunctivitis and EKC. This investigational research is separate from the labeled uses of any OTC lubricant eye drop marketed under M018 and does not establish safety, efficacy, or regulatory approval for treating either condition.
About ClearSight Therapeutics
ClearSight Therapeutics is a Dallas-based eye-care company founded in 2023 by industry veterans to develop accessible solutions for common ocular conditions. The company maintains distinct commercial and research programs, including OTC lubricant development under applicable monograph labeling and separately described investigational research. Learn more at clearsighttx.com.
NIH funding acknowledgment
Research reported in this release is supported by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R43EY039140. A total of $306,852, or 100% of the project, is financed with federal funds. A total of $0, or 0%, is financed with non-governmental funds. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Media contact
Patrick Smale
Co-founder & CEO
ClearSight Therapeutics
patrick@clearsighttx.com
972-983-7761
Competitive federal award provides external scientific validation of the proposed research program and funds a disciplined path to new evidence
DALLAS, September 22nd, 2026 - ClearSight Therapeutics, Inc., a Dallas-based eye-care company, today announced that it has received a $306,852 Small Business Innovation Research Phase I award from the National Eye Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health. The competitive award marks a major scientific milestone for ClearSight and supports a one-year investigational research program involving a preservative-free ophthalmic formulation in acute infectious conjunctivitis and epidemic keratoconjunctivitis.
The project, award number R43EY039140, runs from September 15, 2026 through August 31, 2027. ClearSight Chief Scientific Officer Nuria Jimenez, PhD, PMP, will serve as principal investigator. The Notice of Award identifies the project as research and development and states that it does not support an NIH-defined clinical trial.
Why this award matters
NIH funding decisions follow rigorous peer review of scientific and technical merit and a second-level assessment of mission relevance. Reviewers consider the importance of the proposed research, the rigor and feasibility of the approach, and whether the investigators and organization have the expertise and resources to carry out the work. For ClearSight, the award provides meaningful external validation of the proposed scientific program and creates an accountable path for turning a promising research premise into credible evidence. It does not predetermine the results; it makes the disciplined work to generate those results possible.
More on The Californer
- Convergence of AI, Wearable Technology, Remote Patient Monitoring and Real-World Healthcare: PomDoctor Ltd. (N A S D A Q: POM)
- Sleepmaxxing Is Everywhere—Murrieta Wellness Practice Offers a Simpler Approach
- New book from journalist Katie Grant gives practical guide for new mothers with postpartum anxiety
- Every App Assumes the Seller Has an Address. Aki Is Built for Sellers Who Move
- Service Guys Urges Ontario Homeowners to Book Chimney Cleaning and WETT Inspections Before the 2026 Heating Season
"This award is a defining milestone for ClearSight. Following competitive review of the scientific and technical merit of our proposed work, NIH support gives us both meaningful external validation and non-dilutive capital to build the evidence base with rigor. It is a powerful vote of confidence in the importance of the question, the strength of the research plan, and our team's ability to execute."
Patrick Smale, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer
"The questions at the center of this program matter to patients, clinicians, and the broader eye-care community. NIH support gives us the opportunity to investigate them with the rigor they deserve, generate credible data, and let the evidence guide what comes next. I am proud to lead this work alongside our team and collaborators."
Nuria Jimenez, PhD, PMP, Chief Scientific Officer and Principal Investigator
"I am excited and grateful for this initial support from the National Eye Institute, which represents an important step in advancing our innovation toward clinical development. This funding will enable us to generate the rigorous data needed to further validate the technology and its potential to address important unmet needs in topical ocular therapy. As a co-inventor and drug developer, I am particularly encouraged by the opportunity to translate this innovation into a product where patient safety, efficacy, and meaningful clinical benefit remain our highest priorities."
Suchismita Acharya, PhD, Co-Founder, Co-Inventor and Board Member
The SBIR program supports research and development by eligible small businesses. Beyond providing non-dilutive capital, the award gives ClearSight a structured milestone period through August 2027 and an accountable framework for translating a scientific premise into data. The work will proceed under a defined research plan, milestones, and federal reporting obligations.
More on The Californer
- WDTA Highlights Global AI Trust and Infrastructure Cooperation at San Francisco Tech Week 2026
- D.C. Douglas Voices Sygna Suit Lysandre (Alt.) & Chi-Yu in Pokémon Masters EX
- Mark Isham: The Voice Within Premieres October 11 Following Hollywood Screening
- City of Long Beach Advises Electrical Vehicle Users About Potential Hazards from Saltwater Exposure
- Artisan Neuromuscular & Sports Massage Therapy Launches Massage Gift Cards in Los Angeles
Important regulatory context
ClearSight's NIH-funded research program will study preservative-free ophthalmic formulation in acute infectious conjunctivitis and EKC. This investigational research is separate from the labeled uses of any OTC lubricant eye drop marketed under M018 and does not establish safety, efficacy, or regulatory approval for treating either condition.
About ClearSight Therapeutics
ClearSight Therapeutics is a Dallas-based eye-care company founded in 2023 by industry veterans to develop accessible solutions for common ocular conditions. The company maintains distinct commercial and research programs, including OTC lubricant development under applicable monograph labeling and separately described investigational research. Learn more at clearsighttx.com.
NIH funding acknowledgment
Research reported in this release is supported by the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R43EY039140. A total of $306,852, or 100% of the project, is financed with federal funds. A total of $0, or 0%, is financed with non-governmental funds. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Media contact
Patrick Smale
Co-founder & CEO
ClearSight Therapeutics
patrick@clearsighttx.com
972-983-7761
Source: ClearSight Therapeutics, Inc.
Filed Under: Health, Technology
0 Comments
Latest on The Californer
- California: Governor Newsom announces appointments 10.9.2026
- Low-Cost E&O Coverage Available for New Medicare Agents
- For National Novel Writing Month: Check out a Painting and a Poem by Robert M. Barrows called "The Publisher's and Producer's Lament"
- Empyric Consulting Emphasizes Transparent Guidance and State Regulatory Compliance for Care Provider
- California improves access to CalFresh food benefits, helping college students get up to $306 a month to buy groceries
- Joey Wilder Receives Second Two Comma Club Award for Wilder Labs
- Matell Celebrates #1 Debut Album "Skull: Shadows"
- American Liberty Publishers Announces Two New Author Releases: A Memoir and a Cookbook
- IMCX 2026 Returns to Downtown Los Angeles October 14-15 With 20+ Creator Economy Speakers
- Roch Dog Publishes a Hotelier's Guide to What Dog Owners Will Actually Pay For
- Oceanside Nonprofit's Free AI Cancer Platform Reaches 87,000 Users in 85 Countries
- City of Long Beach Provides Updates on Ongoing and Planned Peninsula Projects and Coastal Protection Efforts
- Aegean Love Hollywood Premiere on 10/30
- eRacks Founder Recalls the First KVM Forums and Why eRacks Built eVirt on Linux's Own Hypervisor
- PODS Helps Local Residents Make Room for Fall with the Great PODS Fall Refresh Giveaway
- Where to stay for Usher and Chris Brown at SoFi Stadium (November 15 and 16)
- House Junkies Inc. of Visalia Earns BBB Accreditation With A+ Rating
- California: First Partner Siebel Newsom co-hosts summit elevating social connection as an urgent public health priority at the Vatican
- Governor Newsom announces new swiftwater rescue fleet to strengthen California storm preparedness
- Geospatial Innovation Comes to Sacramento: FOSS4G NA 2026