ClearSight Therapeutics Receives NIH SBIR Phase I Award for Conjunctivitis and EKC Research
Sep 22, 2026
DALLAS - Sept. 22, 2026 - PRLog -- 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.
"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.
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
[email protected]
972-983-7761
Photos: (Click photo to enlarge)
Source: ClearSight Therapeutics, Inc.
Read Full Story - ClearSight Therapeutics Receives NIH SBIR Phase I Award for Conjunctivitis and EKC Research | More news from this source
Press release distribution by PRLog
Senate takes up system loss charge: 'Electricity is not a luxury'
The Senate on Tuesday took up the bill removing the system loss charge in consumers" electric bills during the session, with many senators backing the measure.
DOF chief signs resolution on suspension of LPG, kerosene excise tax
Finance Secretary Frederick Go said he has signed a resolution on the suspension of the excise tax on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene.
PH secures P2-billion grant from Australia for job generation --DOF
PH secures P2-B grant from Australia for job generation --DOF
PlayTime Entertainment expands footprint as Manila Fashion Week partner
PlayTime Entertainment is solidifying its footprint across diverse commercial sectors, stepping onto the runway as the official entertainment partner for Manila Fashion Week.
Global biofuel output to jump nearly 70% by 2030 due to Gulf energy crisis, study finds
Global biofuels output is expected to surge nearly 70% by 2030 from 2025 levels as major producing countries push ahead with raising blending mandates in response to the energy crisis.
Some family offices eyeing Chinese investments as US-China tensions ease: report
Ultra-wealthy families in Europe, the Middle East and Africa view China as their most favoured market for future investments, as concerns over tensions between Beijing and Washington ease, according to a survey by Citigroup. The latest edition of the Global Family Office Report, published on Tuesday, analysed the investment plans of 351 family offices – private companies set up to manage the assets of ultra-wealthy families – from more than 40 countries around the world. In the survey, 29 per...
China’s Huawei trims mobile chip gap with Apple as Tau Scaling Law pays off: Bernstein
Huawei Technologies’ latest smartphone processor, the Kirin 9050 Pro, unveiled earlier this month, has narrowed its gap with Apple’s chips to about three years, from roughly four years in the previous generation, according to equity research firm Bernstein. The chip, which Bernstein estimated was produced using technology equivalent to a 7-nanometre process node, outperformed Apple’s 3nm A17 Pro in Geekbench 6 multicore tests, a widely used benchmark that measures how effectively processors...
DOE stands by P24B demand from solar energy firm founded by Leandro Leviste
The Department of Energy (DOE) on Tuesday said it sent termination letters, including a demand for P24 billion, to Solar Philippines Inc., the renewable energy firm founded by Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, in connection with its renewable energy contracts.
DTI defends exclusion of e-motorcycles from EV incentives
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) remains open to incentives for electric motorcycle and tricycle manufacturers but is currently prioritizing four-wheelers to prevent investment redundancy. This follows the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) criticism of the Electric Vehicle Incentive Strategy (Evis), the P60-billion incentive scheme currently focused on manufacturers that
Wharton MBAs meet to encourage next generation in PH business, finance
The alumni network of prestigious Wharton School is actively opening doors to global finance, encouraging the next generation of local business and finance graduates and professionals.
Reduced generation charges seen in Visayas, Mindanao
Reduced generation charges seen in Visayas, Mindanao
Metro Manila flood project delay trims 2026 infra completion target
MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration has dropped the long-delayed Metro Manila Flood Management Project from its list of flagship projects targeted for completion this year, bringing the number of projects set for a 2026 finish down to just eight. Data from the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (Depdev) as of the second quarter showed
.jpg?itok=kOYgjniP)
YOUR NEWS, OUR NETWORK.
Do you have Great News you want to tell the world?
Be it updates about your business or your community, you can make sure that it’s heard by submitting your story to our network reaching hundreds of news sites across 6 verticals.