The mission of the Montreal International Symposium on Retinal and Choroidal Angiogenesis is to present and highlight recent discoveries and technological advances in vascular biology and ophthalmology.
Goals
- To enable the gathering and connection of internationally renowned lecturer-researchers from here and elsewhere with our promising young researchers as well as with our students who will train the next generation.
- To serve as a platform to advance thinking on current and developing therapeutic avenues in order to facilitate the transition of developed technologies to clinical ophthalmology.
Two major themes will be addressed: normal and pathological retinal angiogenesis as well as current topics in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
The creation of these events is the result of the joint efforts of the University of Montreal and the Vision Sciences Research Network.
Welcome everyone!
4th International Symposium on Retinal and Choroidal Angiogenesis
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2025 starting at 8:00 AM (EST)
CRCHUM Amphitheater A, 5th floor
900 Saint-Denis Street, Pavilion R, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H2X 0A9
The Symposium Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that the 4th International Symposium on Retinal and Choroidal Angiogenesis will take place in the fall of 2025 in Montreal. This symposium is generously supported by the Department of Ophthalmology of the Université de Montréal, the Woco Foundation, and the Vision Sciences Research Network, among others. Researchers, clinicians, clinician-researchers, vision health professionals, and students (postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and postgraduate students) are warmly invited to attend this Symposium, which will feature prestigious lectures by international and local scientists at the forefront of retinal vascular biology research.
Scientific program – To come
Registration fees and deadlines
Researchers, clinicians, clinician-researchers, in person or online:
Early Bird Registration – until July 31, 2025
Regular fees – from August 1st to September 30, 2025
$75
$100
Students, interns, professionals, in person or online:
Early Bird Registration – until July 31, 2025
Regular fees – from August 1st to September 30, 2025
$25
$50
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TRAVEL GRANTS (students and postdoctoral fellows) are also available.
Deadline to apply: July 1st, 2025
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CONFERENCES AVAILABLE ONLINE: For those unable to attend this symposium in person, you will be able to follow the conferences via a live webcast. If you choose this method of participation, you will receive the link a few days before the event, once the registration fee has been paid.
The speakers
Francine BEHAR-COHEN, MD, Ph.D.
Professor of ophthalmology at the University of Paris Cité
Retina specialist at Cochin Hospital, Paris – Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris
Director of the research team Pathophysiology of ocular diseases: Therapeutic innovations, Inserm UMR1138
Cordeliers Research Center, Paris
Founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of Eyevensys, SAS, FRANCE
Co-founder of EarlySight, SWITZERLAND
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Katie BENTLEY, Ph.D.
Group Leader at The Francis Crick Institute
Lecturer at Kings College London
London, United Kingdom
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Alexi DEGTEREV, Ph.D.
Associate Professor in the Department of Developmental, Molecular and Chemical Biology
Tufts University School of Medicine
Boston, MA, USA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Jan M van DEURSEN, Ph.D.
Founder and Principal Investigator at Cavalry Biosciences
Principal Investigator at Persistence Therapeutics
Novato, CA, USA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Christiana RUHRBERG, Ph.D.
Professor of neuronal and vascular development
UCL Institute of Ophthalmology
London, United Kingdom
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Andreas STAHL, MD, Ph.D.
Director of the Department of Ophthalmology
University Medicine Greisfswald
Greisfswald, GERMANY
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Jason FISH, Ph. D.
Professor in the Laboratory of Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto
Senior Scientist, University Health Network
Toronto, ON, CANADA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Frank GU, Ph. D.
Director of the Institute for Water Innovation
Co-director of the Self-Driving Lab Formulation, Acceleration Consortium
Professor and holder of the NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Nanotechnology Engineering
Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry
University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, CANADA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Eva KAUFMANN, DVM, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences
Queen’s University
Kingston, ON, CANADA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Joanne MATSUBARRA, Ph. D.
Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Faculty Lead at the UBC Research Excellence Cluster in Vision
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC, CANADA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Deniz Meneksedag EROL, Ph. D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Concordia University, Montreal, QC, CANADA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Jean-Philippe GRATTON, Ph. D.
Full Professor and Director
Department of Pharmacology and Physiology
Biomedical Innovation Center (CIB)
Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal
Montreal, QC, CANADA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
The Symposium Organizing Committee
Sylvain CHEMTOB, MD, Ph.D., FRCPC, FAAP
Alexandre DUBRAC, Ph. D.
Isabelle HARDY, MD, FRCS(C), DABO
Bruno LARRIVÉE, Ph. D.
Ian MacDONALD, M.Sc., MD, CM
Przemyslaw (Mike) SAPIEHA, Ph.D.
Flavio REZENDE, MD, Ph. D.
Annie BLAIS, BA
Valérie LAVASTRE, Ph. D.
Benjamin PELLACANI, BAA
For more information please contact:
Annie Blais annie.blais.3@umontreal.ca
This event would not have taken place without the support of the University of Montreal and the Vision Sciences Research Network.
3rd International Symposium on Retinal and Choroidal Angiogenesis
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2022 starting at 8:00 AM (EST)
University of Montreal, Roger-Gaudry Pavilion, M-415
2900 Édouard-Montpetit Blvd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3T 1J4
The Symposium Organizing Committee thanks you for participating in the 3rd International Symposium on Retinal and Choroidal Angiogenesis, which took place on Thursday, October 20, 2022, in Montreal. This symposium was generously supported by the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Montreal, the Woco Foundation, the Vision Health Research Network, and the Antoine-Turmel Foundation, among others.
Researchers, clinicians, clinician-researchers, visual health professionals and students (postdoctoral fellows, second and third cycle) were warmly invited to attend this Symposium which presented prestigious conferences given by international and local scientists at the cutting edge of research in retinal vascular biology.
The speakers
Napoleone FERRARA, MD, PhD
Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Pathology
Senior Deputy Director for Basic Sciences, UCSD Moores Cancer Center
Hildyard Endowed Chair in Eye Diseases
School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego (UCSD)
La Jolla, California, USA
Conference title: The Key Role of VEGF in Ocular Angiogenesis
Francine BEHAR-COHEN, MD, PhD
Professor of ophthalmology at the University of Paris Cité
Retina specialist at Cochin Hospital, Paris, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris
Director of the research team Pathophysiology of eye diseases: Therapeutic innovations, Inserm UMR1138, Cordeliers Research Center, Paris
Founder and Chief Scientific Advisor of Eyevensys, SAS, FRANCE
Co-founder of EarlySight, SWITZERLAND
Conference title: Mineralocorticoid pathway activation in retinal pathology
Holger GERHADT, PhD
Professor of experimental cardiovascular research at Charité
Professor at the German Cardiovascular Research Center (DZHK) and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)
MDC Spokesperson in Integrative Biomedicine
Head of Integrative Vascular Biology
Max Delbrück Center (MDC) for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, GERMANY
Conference title: Shaping the vascular tree – principles and regulation of endothelial behavior
Maria GRANT, MD, FARVO
Researcher and professor
Eivor and Alston Callahan Endowed Chair
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
Conference title: Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells mobilize from distinct bone marrow compartments in response to retinal injury
Marie Elizabeth HARTNETT, MD, FACS, FARVO
Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Calvin S. and JeNeal N. Hatch Presidential Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Neurobiology
John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
Conference title: Targeting pathologic signaling to restore homeostasis in age-related macular degeneration
Lois EH SMITH, MD, PhD
Researcher and professor
Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School
Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts, USA
John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
Conference title: Translational Studies in phase I ROP
Christos BOUTOPOULOS, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal
Researcher, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center
Research Center, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Conference title: Laser-assisted technologies enable precise subretinal drug delivery and spatially guided endothelial tubulogenesis
Gerardo FERBEYRE, MD, PhD
Full Professor
Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine
CIBC Chair in Research into the Causes of Breast Cancer, University of Montreal
Research Center of the University of Montreal Hospital Center (CHUM), Quebec, CANADA
Conference title: Cellular senescence, aging and the nucleolus
Ruben Marin JUEZ, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal
Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Research Center of the University of Montreal Hospital Center (CHUM), Quebec, CANADA
Conference Title: Coronary Angiocrines to Stimulate Heart Regeneration
William D. LUBELL, PhD
Full Professor
Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Chemistry, University of Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Conference title: Allosteric Modulators of Inflammatory Pathways As Treatments of Retinal and Choroidal Vascular Degeneration
Malika OUBAHA, PhD
Canada Research Chair in Senescence and Vascular Development
Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Quebec in Montreal (UQÀM)
Center of Excellence for Research on Orphan Diseases
Courtois Foundation (CERMO-FC), Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Conference title: Allosteric Modulators of Inflammatory Pathways As Treatments of Retinal and Choroidal Vascular Degeneration
Ajitha THANABALASURIAR, PhD
Assistant professor
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, CANADA
Conference Title: Visualizing Neutrophil Dynamics on the Eye
The Symposium Organizing Committee
Sylvain CHEMTOB, MD, Ph.D., FRCPC, FAAP
Isabelle HARDY, MD, FRCS(C), DABO
Adriana DI POLO, Ph. D.
Bruno LARRIVÉE, Ph. D.
Przemyslaw (Mike) SAPIEHA, Ph.D.
Flavio REZENDE, MD, Ph. D.
Valérie LAVASTRE, Ph. D.
Isabelle LAHAIE, M. Sc.
Annie BLAIS, BA
Benjamin PELLACANI, BAA
For more information please contact:
Isabelle Lahaie ilahaie.hmr@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Annie Blais annie.blais.3@umontreal.ca
This event would not have taken place without the support of:
NEWS – COVID-19: The 2nd International Symposium on Retinal and Choroidal Angiogenesis will not be able to be held in person. In order to maintain scientific activity in this field, the organizing committee of this Symposium is offering you a satellite meeting in virtual mode.
Satellite Scientific Meeting of the 2nd International Symposium on Retinal and Choroidal Angiogenesis
Thursday, November 5, 2020 8:30 AM
Online event only
This satellite meeting is organized jointly with the support of the University of Montreal and the Vision Health Research Network.
Isabelle Lahaie ilahaie.hmr@ssss.gouv.qc.ca
Annie Blais annie.blais.3@umontreal.ca
SCIENTIFIC ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Sylvain CHEMTOB, MD, Ph.D., FRCPC, FAAP
Isabelle HARDY, MD, FRCS(C), DABO
Adriana DI POLO, Ph. D.
Przemyslaw (Mike) SAPIEHA, Ph.D.
Bruno LARRIVÉE, Ph. D.
Flavio REZENDE, MD, Ph. D.
Presentation of the speakers
Baptiste Lacoste, PhD
Researcher and assistant professor
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Conference Title: Contributions of Neurovascular Abnormalities to Autism Spectrum Disorders
Alexandre Dubrac, PhD
Researcher and professor under assistant grant
Department of Pathology and Cell Biology
Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Research Center of the University of Montreal Hospital Center (CHUM), Quebec, CANADA
Conference Title: Noncanonical TGFb Signaling is Crucial for Specialized Neuroretina Tip-Cells Sprouting and Blood-Retina Barrier Formation
Ivan Radovanovic, MD, PhD, FHM (Swiss Board of Neurosurgery)
Researcher and Associate Professor
Toronto Western Research Institute, Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network,
Department of Surgery. University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference title: Brain arteriovenous malformations: genetic origin, signaling and potential therapies
Christian Salesse, PhD
Regular researcher and full professor
Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery
Research Center of the CHU de Québec, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Canada
Conference title: Metabolism of the visual cycle and the activity of lecithin retinol acyltransferase from the retinal pigment epithelium
Flavio Rezende, MD, PhD
Ophthalmologist, retinology surgeon and associate professor
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal
University of Montreal Ophthalmology Center, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Quebec, Canada
Conference title: First Good News for 2020: Gene Therapy for Retinopathies
1st International Symposium on Retinal and Choroidal Angiogenesis
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2017 from 8:00 a.m. (EST)
CHU Ste-Justine Research Center, Amphitheater 250 – Block 11 – Level A
3175 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road, Montreal, QC, H3T 1C5
The first Montreal International Symposium on Retinal and Choroidal Angiogenesis took place on Monday, November 6, 2017, in Montreal. This symposium was organized as part of the 2017 Vision Health Research Network (VHRN) Annual Meeting and was supported by the Université de Montréal, the Woco Foundation, and the Antoine-Turmel Foundation, among others.
Nearly a hundred researchers, clinicians, clinician-researchers, visual health professionals and students (postdoctoral fellows, second and third cycle) attended the event.
The journal “Annals of Eye Science” was also a partner of the event.
A special edition of this journal (March 2018) is now available online and brings together the author-authorized abstracts presented at this Symposium as well as the 2017 RRSV Annual Meeting.
This event would not have taken place without the support of:
