VISION RESTORATION SUMMER SCHOOL 2024
It is with great pleasure that we announce that the VHRN will welcome its second cohort of students/interns in 2024. Building on its success in 2022, the Organizing Committee team is preparing a scientific program just as exciting and interesting as the first edition. Don’t miss this unique opportunity in Quebec to meet and talk, over several days and in an enchanting setting, with leading local and international vision researchers, and to forge links between students who are passionate about vision!
REGISTRATION OPENING : EARLY/MID FEBRUARY 2024 (see link below)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: ⇒ EXTENDED UNTIL MARCH 29 2024 ⇐
CONFIRMATION – 2024 COHORT : APRIL
REGISTRATION FEES*: 250$/selected candidate
*Registration fees include:
- access to conference
- travel (round trip Montreal to St-Paulin by bus)
- accommodation (3 nights)
- breakfasts (3) – lunch (3) – dinner (3) – Coffee breaks
- outdoor activities
MISSION
The Vision Restoration Summer School focuses on new concepts and cuttingedge research in vision science, impacts of visual impairments, recovery of function, and restoration. World class faculty will provide insights into a broad range of current topics including retinal circuits and function, retinal degeneration and regeneration, vascular dysfunction, brain and perception, visual impairment and rehabilitation.
Our mission comprises three (3) main objectives:
- To train the next generation of vision scientists by exposing them to inspiring topics in an immersive environment;
- To provide extensive possibilities for student-faculty interactions and networking;
- To enhance the ability of students to pursue a successful career in vision science.
Join us for this unique opportunity to learn and share knowledge with experts and colleagues.
SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM
The summer school will take over 2 1/2 days (3 nights), from July 8 to 11 inclusive. Ten (10) guest speakers (international and local) will present a 50-minute lecture. Two main themes will be addressed: retinal processing, degeneration, and therapies (July 9) and holistic aspects of visual processing and visual impairment (July 10). Presentations will be given exclusively in English. Selected students will be asked to present a poster of their research work, and some will be rselected to give an oral presentation.
Poster Event – TO COME
Preliminary Scientific Program
TARGET AUDIENCE AND SELECTION PROCESS
This advanced school isopen to all graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, residents, and clinical fellows. Students from Canada and abroad are invited to apply. A limited number of spaces is available. Selection, conducted by the organizing committee, will be based on the quality of the abstract and motivation statement (deadline: March 15 ⇒ EXTEND UNTIL MARCH 25 2024).
Candidates will be informed of the results by April, 2024.
STUDENT PRESENTATION DETAILS
There will be 4 Student Presentation Sessions. From all posters, twelve (12) presenters will be selected by the Scientific Committee to give an oral presentation. Selected participants will receive confirmation in May.
- Tuesday, July 9, 2024 – 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Session 1: Poster Presentation
- Wednesday, July 10, 2024 – 5:30 am – 6:30 pm – Session 2: Flash talks by students (from Poster Session 1)
- Wednesday, July 10, 2024 – 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm – Session 3: Poster presentations
- Thursday, July 11, 2024 – 9:20 am – 10:10 pm – Session 4: Flash talks by students (from Poster Session 3)
POSTER presentation is mandatory for all participant (even for participants who have been selected for an oral presentation – Flash talks). ORAL presentations are 5 minutes maximum and will be followed by a 5-minute question period. The time of your presentation will be revealed when the final program is published.
Poster dimensions (maximum):
- WIDTH: 41 inches (104 cm)
- HEIGHT: 38 inches (96 cm)
LOCATION / ACCOMMODATION
We are happy to welcome you at Le Baluchon- Eco-villegiature, an ecologically minded resort, in the heart of the Mauricie region overlooking the Rivière-du-Loup. Renowned for its enchanting decor, historic character, farm-to-table gastronomy, and outstanding service, Le Baluchon – Éco-villégiature is a choice par excellence for our summer school. Its unique location offers a variety of outdoor activities in a beautiful natural setting (hiking, swimming, kayaking, horseback riding, achery, etc.).
Every student will have to share a room with another student. The Organizing + Logistic Committee will establish the pairing.
For more information, please visit their web site: https://www.baluchon.com/en/
Approximative time :
Montreal : 2 hours
Quebec : 2 hours
Trois-Rivieres : 50 minutes
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
RETINA and POSTERIOR SEGMENT AXIS
Adriana Di Polo, Ph.D.
Tenured professor, Centre de recherche du CHUM
Department og nerosciences
Université de Montréal, Montreal QC Canada
BRAIN and PERCEPTION AXIS
Stuart Trenholm, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI)
Department of neurology and neurosurgery
McGill University, Montreal QC Canada
LOGISTIC COMMITTE
Valérie Lavastre, Ph.D. VHRN Coordinator |
Deborah Villafranca-Baughman, Ph.D. deborah.villafranca.baughman@umontreal.ca |
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TRANSPORTATION TO VENUE
ROUND TRIP
All participants are asked to arrive to Montreal in the morning or early afternoon on July 8th, 2024. A bus has been arranged to take participants to Le Baluchon, scheduled to leave the Berri/UQAM metro station at 4:00 pm. The bus is scheduled to arrive at Le Baluchon around 6 pm in time for check-in and a welcome reception followed by dinner.
The school will conclude on July 11th right after lunch, and a bus is scheduled to take participants back to Montreal.
***2024-02-13 update***
Quebec City and Trois-Rivières students only: For Quebec-based students for whom getting to Montreal is more cumbersome than getting to Trois-Rivieres, a free group cab (departing from Trois-Rivières) will be available for participants in the 2024 cohort. Furthermore, upon presentation of an invoice, a refund agreement may be granted to participants to reimburse reasonable transportation costs from their home town to Trois-Rivieres. Please contact us to discuss details before booking anything.
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REGISTRATION LINK
⇒ ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION FORM ⇐
NEW EXTENSION: MARCH 29 2024
For consultation only : VHRN_Summer school_2024_Registration-form
If you have trouble registering online, you can use the Word version of the electronic registration form.
DETAILS FOR PAYMENT
Selected participants will receive an invoice inviting them to pay their registration fee. You will be asked to complete your registration form in the « PAYMENT » section. Payment can be made by credit card (an easy and secure way). The invoice and other details will be include in your acceptance e-mail, sent in April.
Registration includes:
- Round trip Montréal to the hostel
- Accommodation (3 nights) (2 students/room)
- All meals and coffee breaks
- Outdoor activities
For any questions regarding your registration or for other information, please contact the Logistic Committee.
