The mission of the International Symposium on Corneal Regenerative Medicine is to present and highlight recent discoveries and technological advances in regenerative medicine and translational research for the treatment of corneal diseases.
General objectives
- To enable the gathering and contact between internationally renowned lecturer-researchers and clinicians from here and elsewhere with our promising young researchers, our young clinicians, and our students who will train the next generation of researchers.
- To serve as a platform to advance thinking on current and developing therapeutic avenues in order to facilitate the transition of technologies towards regenerative medicine
- Promoting and promoting French-speaking science
- Stimulate collaborations between French-speaking scientific communities in vision health in France, Quebec and elsewhere
- Promoting interdisciplinary discussions
Specific objectives
- For ophthalmologists: Better understand how the regenerative medicine of tomorrow has already crossed the doors of our clinics. Understand how to benefit our patients.
- For corneologists: Consolidate cutting-edge clinical knowledge and aim for its safe and proactive clinical application for the well-being of our patients. Learn to facilitate the transfer of knowledge to our peers.
- For researchers and clinicians at all levels: Anchoring our knowledge for effective and accessible translational research, from laboratory to patient
The creation of this symposium is the result of the joint efforts of the University of Montreal and the French Society of Ophthalmology (SFO). The SFO is the largest international French-speaking ophthalmology society in the world, bringing together more than 6,500 members from France and 17 other countries.
Welcome to everyone!
1st International Symposium on Corneal Regenerative Medicine
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025 starting at 8:00 AM (EST)
University of Montreal, Roger-Gaudry Pavilion, M-415
2900 Édouard-Montpetit Blvd., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3T 0A3
The Symposium Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that the first International Symposium on Corneal Regenerative Medicine will take place on THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2025 in Montreal.
Scientific content in brief:
- Ocular surface grafting reconstructed by tissue engineering from autologous stem cells, biosynthetic substitutes of the human cornea, and corneal neurotization will be discussed.
- Translational research experts Graziella Pellegrini, Italy, and Lucie Germain, Quebec, will discuss the past, present, and future of corneal stem cell transplants in Europe and Canada. Francisco Figueiredo, UK, Bernard Duchesne, Belgium, and our clinical researchers from Toronto and Quebec will report on the results of the first European and Canadian clinical studies.
- There are Leyngold, the investigator of surgical corneal neurotization, Nacim Bouheraoua, Paris, and Asim Ali, Toronto and author of the first and largest case series in children, who will present the advances in which they participated, as well as the future development of this technique.
- May Griffith, PhD, an internationally renowned Montreal researcher, will present her pioneering work on biosynthetic corneal substitutes.
Registration fees and deadlines
Researchers, clinicians, clinician-researchers:
Early-bird registration (until July 31st, 2025)
Regular registrations – between August 1st and September 30th, 2025
$150
$100
Students, interns, professionals:
Early-Bird registration (until July 31st, 2025)
Regular registrations – between August 1st and September 30th, 2025
$25
$50
Guest Speakers
Graziella PELLEGRINI, Ph.D.
Full Professor of Cell Biology
Department of Life Sciences
Coordinator of the Cell Therapy Program, “Stefano Ferrari” Center for Regenerative Medicine
University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
Founder of Holostem Srl
European scientific expert for the treatment of limbic stem cell deficiency
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Clara CHAN, MD, FRCSC, FACS
Associate Professor
Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences
University of Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Francisco FIGUEIREDO, MD, Ph.D., FRCOphth
Professor of Ophthalmology
Department of Ophthalmology
Royal Victoria Infirmary and Bioscences Institute
Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University
Newcastle upon Tyne, UNITED KINGDOM
Conference title: Coming soon
Bernard DUCHESNES, MD, Ph.D.
Ophthalmologist, cornea specialist
University Hospital Center (CHU) of Liège
Head of the Eye Bank at the University Hospital of Liège, BELGIUM
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Marc LABETOULLE, MD, Ph. D.
Secretary General of the SFO
Professor of Ophthalmology and Head of the Chair of Ophthalmology
Faculty of Medicine of Bicêtre
Bicêtre Hospital-Paris-Saclay University and Quinze-Vingts National Vision Hospital
Paris, FRANCE
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Ilya M. LEYNGOLD, MD
Co-Medical Director and Founder
Leyngold Institute of Plastic Surgery
Clinical Associate Professor of Plastic Surgery and Ophthalmology, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Associate Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Washington School of Medicine
Department of Ophthalmology, Meridian, Idaho, USA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Nacim BOUHERAOUA, MD, Ph. D.
Ophthalmologist, cornea specialist
University Professor – Hospital Practitioner
Sorbonne University, Paris, FRANCE
Conference Title: Coming Soon
Asim ALI, B.A. Sc., MD, FRCS (C)
Ophthalmologist-in-Chief
Hospital for Sick Children
Professor of Ophthalmology
University of Toronto, Ontario, CANADA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
May GRIFFITH, Ph. D.
Researcher at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center
Director of the Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Research Unit
Full Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology
University of Montreal, QC, CANADA
Conference Title: Coming Soon
The Scientific Organizing Committee
Isabelle BRUNETTE, MD, FRCS(C) (Montreal, QC)
Isabelle HARDY, MD, FRCS(C), DABO (Montreal, QC), SFO International Advisor
Ian MacDONALD, MD, MSc, CM (Montreal, QC)
Marc LABETOUILLE, MD, Ph. D. (Paris, FRANCE), Secretary General of the SFO
Bernard DUCHESNE, MD, Ph. D. (Liège, BELGIUM), International Advisor to the SFO
Alexandra RADERMECKER, M.D. (Liège, BELGIUM), Fellow in cornea
The Logistics Organizing Committee
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.