Fighting blindness requires science, strategy, and a great deal of heart. Today’s guest is Jason Menzo, CEO of the Foundation Fighting Blindness, the world’s largest private funder of retinal disease research. Since assuming the role in 2022, after serving as President and COO, Jason has helped raise nearly a billion dollars and is backing over 100 projects across 86 labs and clinical centers worldwide. With more than two decades in ophthalmology at Sun Ophthalmologics, Nycox SA, Bausch & Lomb, and Bayer, he brings sharp business instincts and a deep commitment to restoring sight.

Before joining the Foundation, Jason co-founded and led several eye-care ventures focused on bringing breakthrough treatments to patients more quickly. That for-profit experience now fuels mission-driven innovation, new funding models, and partnerships that move discoveries from the lab to the clinic. A standout example is the early Foundation support for the research behind Luxturna, the first FDA-approved gene therapy for an inherited disease, demonstrating how bold, risk-tolerant philanthropy can transform medicine when academia, government, and industry collaborate.

A hallmark of his leadership is the R&D Fund, a $160 million venture philanthropy model with an eight-to-one leverage ratio. This bridges academic research and commercialization, drawing in private capital to advance promising therapies. He has also championed a global network of over 40 clinical centers in 10 countries and strengthened the talent pipeline through fellowships and translational awards. Today, 88% of retinal treatments in clinical trials can be traced back to Foundation-funded programs.

Today, we discuss where science, policy, and philanthropy converge to bring sight-saving treatments closer to reality. We discuss the proposed Venture Philanthropy Enhancement Act and look ahead to gene-agnostic therapies, cell regeneration, and whole-eye transplant initiatives with ARPA-H. 

In This Episode:

[01:30] Jason reflects on his transition from the pharmaceutical world to nonprofit work and what drew him to the Foundation.

[03:10] Discussion of Luxturna’s groundbreaking FDA approval and how early Foundation funding contributed to its success.

[05:30] Jason explains how the Foundation balances basic and translational research to accelerate cures for retinal diseases.

[07:45] Overview of the Foundation’s five-year strategic plan and its flexible approach to adapting research priorities.

[09:15] Insight into the importance of collaboration among universities, the NIH, and industry partners to move discoveries into the clinic.

[11:00] Jason highlights the creation and purpose of the R&D Fund, a venture philanthropy model launched in 2018.

[13:00] The Fund’s success in achieving an 8-to-1 leverage ratio and attracting top venture capital partners.

[15:10] How the Foundation conducts due diligence when selecting companies for investment.

[17:30] Explanation of how the R&D Fund differs from traditional research grants and why selectivity is key.

[19:00] Jason introduces the Venture Philanthropy Enhancement Act and discusses its potential impact on funding for rare diseases.

[22:00] Story of a near-failed company that survived through philanthropic support and produced life-changing clinical trial results.

[24:00] The Foundation’s suite of grants and awards supporting early-career and translational researchers.

[26:10] Career Development Awards and their role in retaining top talent in retinal disease research.

[28:00] How the Foundation partners with tech transfer offices to bridge the “Valley of Death” between discovery and commercialization.

[30:00] Metrics beyond publications—how FFB measures its real-world impact on treatments and cures.

[32:15] Jason shares the emerging technologies he finds most promising, including gene-agnostic and cell-based therapies.

[34:10] Discussion on the global prevalence of blindness and the Foundation’s efforts to prioritize late-stage and restorative therapies.

[36:00] Jason outlines upcoming funding opportunities and deadlines for university researchers.

[37:30] Final reflections on hope, awareness, and collaboration shaping the future of vision restoration.

Resources: 

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Jason Menzo - Foundation Fighting Blindness

Jason Menzo - LinkedIn

Jason Menzo - X