National and international networking program
The objective of this program is to promote collaborations outside Quebec in order to increase the influence of RRSV researchers on the national and international scenes.
This program is intended to promote collaborations in Quebec and abroad; this program supports researchers in the development of partnerships and scientific exchanges.
Since its creation in 2015, the Network has funded 25 research projects (including 8 renewals) involving a total of 13 countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Lithuania, Portugal, Qatar, Spain, United Kingdom, United States) working alongside our teams in Quebec (last update: 2022-01-26).
RRSV investment in the program since its creation: $1,042,191 (an average of $150,000/year)
This program also enabled the production of several communications in collaboration with our national and international researchers, including 14 publications and 41 presentations (poster or oral presentations) in several conferences (last update: 2020-01-23).
Geographic distribution of NIN projects funded by the VSRN.
Grant
$50,000
Deadlines
Lettre d’intention
August 15 2025*
Sections 1 and 2
Full application
October 15 2025*
All sections
* If these dates fall on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, the candidate will have until Monday evening to send their application to the VSRN.
2025-2026 Application Forms
First application
NIN_first application_PDF version_July 2025
NIN_first application_Word version_July 2025
Renewal
NIN_renewal_PDF version_July 2025
NIN_renewal_Word version_July 2025
Other
Instructions for detailed contributions
Evaluation Grids
NIN_first application_2025-2026
Scientific report
A scientific report must be submitted at the end of each grant, then when requesting renewal of the VSRN.
Link for “Scientific Report”
Financial report
For any project subsidized by the VSRN, a financial report must be submitted to the FRQS at the end of the financial year (March 31) following the year of the award as well as at the end of the grant.
Link for “Financial Report“.
Funded researchers
The role of cone photoreceptor planar cell polarity in health and disease Brain-wide assessment of visual function following retina-based optogenetic vision restoration (renouvellement)
Michel CAYOUETTE, Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal
In collaboration with: Ryan MacDONALD, Institut of Ophthalomoly, University College London, London, UNITED KINGDOOM
Development of pre-clinical cell-based assays to study geographic atrophy (nouvelle demande)
Sergio CRESPO-GARCIA, École d’optométrie – Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Michel PAQUES, Hôpital des Quinze-Vingts, Paris, FRANCE
Brain-wide assessment of visual function following retina-based optogenetic vision restoration (nouvelle demande)
Stuart TRENHOLM, Montreal Neurological Institute – McGill University
In collaboration with: Émilie MACÉ, Dynamics of Excitable Cell Networks University Medical Center Göttingen Gottingen, GERMANY
Reorganization of motor functions in blind mice (nouvelle demande)
Matthieu VANNI, École d’optométrie – Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Mathilde BALBI, Queensland Brain Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
Growing up & Being Deafblind: Analyzing comparative case studies from the Global South and North to illuminate enablers that lead towards the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (nouvelle demande)
Walter WITTICH, École d’optométrie – Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Leda KAMENOPOULOU, University College London, London et Peter SIMCOCK, Birmingham City University City South Campus, Birmingham, UNITED KINGDOM
The following project was also supported by the Fondation des maladies d’œil (FMO).
Intercellular mitochondrial transfer: a communication pathway between choroidal melanoma cancer cells and stromal cells in their microenvironment (nouvelle demande)
Patrick ROCHETTE et Solange LANDREVILLE, Université Laval
En collaboration avec: Evangelos MICHELAKIS, University of Alberta, Alberta, CANADA
Identification de vulnérabilités exploitables dans le mélanome uvéal (first application)
Solange LANDREVILLE, Université Laval
In collaboration with: Corine BERTOLOTTO, Université Côte d’Azur, Nice, FRANCE
Cortical mapping of multisensory integration in awaken mice (first application)
Elvire VAUCHER, École d’optométrie – Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Lutgarde ARKENS, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) te Leuven, Louvain, BELGIUM
The following project was also supported by the Fondation Antoine-Turmel.
The role of cone photoreceptor planar cell polarity in health and disease (first application)
Michel CAYOUETTE, Montreal Clinicial Research Institute
In collaboration with: Ryan MacDONALD, Institut of Ophthalomoly, University College London, London, UNITED KINGDOM
The following project was funded by the Fondation des maladies de l’œil.
Correction par Prime editing de mutations responsables de maladies héréditaires de l’œil (first application)
Solange LANDREVILLE, Université Laval
In collaboration with: Roxana A. RADU, UCLA Stein Eye Institute, USA
Perception des stimulations visuelles naturelles et modulation de l’activité des cartes corticales (renewal)
Christian CASANOVA, École d’optométrie – Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Laurent PERRINET, Institut des Neurosciences de la Timone (INT) de la Vision, Marseilles, FRANCE
Systemic application of melatonin to curb vascular anomalies and maintain retinal integrity in a rat model of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) (first application)
Sylvain CHEMTOB, Centre de recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine – Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Giuseppe BUONOCORE, Istituti Biologici S. Miniato, Universita de Siena, Sienne, ITALIE – Walter BALDUINI, Universita di Urbino « Carlo Bo », Urbino, ITALIE
Cellules souches stromales de cornées humaines pour développer de nouvelles thérapies tissulaires dans le traitement des plaies cornéennes (first application)
Sylvain GUÉRIN, Université Laval (Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement – CUO Recherche)
In collaboration with: Vincent BORDERIE, Institut de la vision, Centre Hospitalier Nationale d’Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, Paris, FRANCE
The following project was jointly funded by the Fondation des maladies de l’oeil and the Fondation Antoine-Turmel.
Saccade-pursuit interactions with central vision loss (first application)
Aarlenne KHAN, École d’optométrie – Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Gunnar BLOHM, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, CANADA – Steve HEINEN et Preeti VERGHESE, The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, San Francisco, Californie, ÉTATS-UNIS – Philippe LEFÈVRE, Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, BELGIUM
Mapping mouse cortical activation and acetylcholine release during visual discrimination (renewal)
Elvire VAUCHER, Université de Montréal (École d’optométrie)
In collaboration with: Yulong LI, Peking University, Beijing, CHINE – Lindsey GLICKFELD, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (NC), ÉTATS-UNIS
Développement d’un outil de détection des mucines oculaires pour l’amélioration de la médication en ophtalmologie (first application)
Élodie BOISSELIER, Sylvain GUÉRIN et Ali DIRANI, Université Laval (Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement – CUO Recherche)
In collaboration with: Luc VELLUTINI et Sébastien BONHOMMEAU – Université de Bordeaux – Institut des Sciences Moléculaires, Talence, FRANCE
Perception des stimulations visuelles naturelles et modulation de l’activité des cartes corticales (first application)
Christian CASANOVA, Université de Montréal (École d’optométrie)
In collaboration with: Laurent PERRINET, Institut des Neurosciences de la Timone (INT) de la Vision, Marseilles, FRANCE
Monitoring expression of the transcription factors Sp1 and NFI as markers of cell quality in human corneal epithelial cells cultured on different cell carriers (renewal)
Sylvain GUÉRIN, Université Laval (Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement – CUO Recherche)
In collaboration with: Carina KOPPEN, Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, BELGIQUE – Lucie GERMAIN, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – LOEX/ CMDGT, Québec, Québec, CANADA
Étude de l’évolution clonale du mélanome uvéal pour identifier la sous-population cellulaire à l’origine des métastases hépatiques (first application)
Solange LANDREVILLE, Université Laval (Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec – Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement – CUO Recherche)
In collaboration with: Frédéric MOURIAUX, David GILOT – INSERM U1242, Université de Rennes 1, FRANCE
The 3 following projects were partially funded by the Fondation Antoine-Turmel.
Mapping mouse cortical activation and acetylcholine release during visual discrimination (first application)
Elvire VAUCHER, Université de Montréal (École d’optométrie)
In collaboration with: Yulong LI, Peking University, Beijing, CHINE – Lindsey GLICKFELD, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina (NC), ÉTATS-UNIS
Developing clinical tests to detect early signs of retinal pathologies (first application)
Rémy ALLARD, Université de Montréal (École d’optométrie)
In collaboration with: Angelo ARLEO, Institut de la Vision, Sorbonnes, Université Paris, FRANCE – Michel PAQUES, Centre d’Investigations Cliniques 1423, Centre hospitalier national d’ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts & Institut de la Vision, Paris, FRANCE
Impact collatéral de la pandémie COVID-19 sur la vision, les soins oculaires et la santé mentale des patients en ophtalmologie (first application)
Marie-Josée AUBIN, Université de Montréal (Centre de recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont)
In collaboration with: Ellen FREEMAN, Université d’Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA
Corneal Neurotization: A systematic assessment of anatomical and functional outcomes (first application)
Isabelle BRUNETTE, Université de Montréal (Hôpital-Maisonneuve-Rosemont)
In collaboration with: Gregory BORSCHEL, Asim ALI, Ezekiel WEIS, Ahmed AL-GHOUL, Annabelle REAUX-LE-GOAZIGO et Bouheraoua NACIM – University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto (ON), University of Calgary, Calgary, University of Alberta, Edmonton, (AB), CANADA, Centre de Recherche, Institut de la Vision, INSERM / CNRS / Sorbonne Université, CHNO des Quinze-Vingts, Paris, FRANCE.
Optimizing vision restoration with neural networks and neural data (first application)
Christopher PACK, McGill University
In collaboration with: Daniel BUTTS – University of Maryland, College Park (MD), ÉTATS-UNIS.
Impact of urban-related environmental factors on myopia and visual functions in school-age children (first application)
Dave SAINT-AMOUR, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) et Université de Montréal (Centre du CHU-Sainte-Justine)
In collaboration with: Payan DADVAND – Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona (ISGlobal), Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelone, ESPAGNE.
Vers une nouvelle génération de neuroprothèse corticale pour restaurer la vision ((first application)
Matthieu VANNI, Université de Montréal (École d’optométrie)
In collaboration with: Frédéric CHAVANE – Institut des Neuroscience de la Timone (INT), Marseille, FRANCE.
Les 2 projets suivants ont été financés en partie par la Fondation Antoine-Turmel:
Visually Impaired Individuals: An international Collaboration (first application)
Aaron JOHNSON, Concordia University
In collaboration with: William SEIPLE, Ronald SCHUCHARD et Donald FLETCHER – Arlene R. Gordon Research Institute, Lighthouse Guild, New York City (NY), Wichita State University, Wichita (KS) et University of Kansas, Kansas City (KS), ÉTATS-UNIS.
Exploring employment, education and technology use outcomes for Canadians who are blind, deafblind, partially sighted or hearing impaired, using the Canadian Survey on Disability (first application)
Walter WITTICH, Université de Montréal (École d’optométrie)
In collaboration with: Mahadeo SUKHAI – Queen’s University, Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Kingston (ON), CANADA.
The role of Nogo-A in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (first application)
Vincent Pernet, Université Laval (Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec)
In collaboration with: Francine Behar-Cohen, Inserm UMRS, team 17, FRANCE
Generation of a humanized immunodeficient mouse model with both human immune system and hepatic stellate cells to study the degree of immune cell infiltration in metastatic uveal melanoma lesions (first application)
Solange Landreville, Université Laval
In collaboration with: Erik Goormaghtigh, Université Libre de Bruxelles, BELGIUM
Characterization of the modifier gene for age-at-onset of glaucoma at chromosome 20q13 (renewal)
Vincent Raymond, Université Laval
In collaboration with: Michael A. Walter, Université d’Alberta, Edmonton, CANADA
Extracellular vesicles secreted by uveal melanoma cells: pathogenic role and clinical value (first application)
Solange Landreville, Université Laval
In collaboration with: Alain Brisson, UMR-CBMN CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, FRANCE
Monitoring expression of the transcription factors Sp1 and NFI as markers of cell quality in human corneal epithelial cells cultured on amniotic membranes (first application)
Sylvain Guérin, Université Laval (Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec)
In collaboration with: Carina Koppen, Antwerp University Hospital, BELGIUM
Repairing corneal perforations as a means of preventing the need for transplantation (first application)
May Griffith, Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Bruce Allan, Moorfields Eye Hospital, Royaume-Uni
Effects of the cannabinoids on the regeneration of the neurovisual pathway (first application)
Jean-Francois Bouchard, Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Alain Chédotal, Institut de la vision, FRANCE
The following project was funded by the Fondation Antoine-Turmel.
Role of the Extracellular Matrix Components in AMD: Development of an in vitro disease model (first application)
May Griffith, Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Jaganmohan R. Jangamreddy, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Inde et Ramunas Valiokas, Centre des sciences physiques et technologies, LITUANIA
The neural substrate of the binocular changes that occur after short-term monocular deprivation in primates (renewal)
Robert Hess, McGill University
In collaboration with: Frédéric Chavane, Université d’Aix-Marseille, FRANCE
Caractérisation des interactions synergiques entre les cellules cancéreuses du mélanome uvéal et les cellules stromales de leur environnement afin de mieux comprendre sa résistance thérapeutique (renewal)
Solange Landreville, Université Laval
In collaboration with: Frédéric Mouriaux, Université de Rennes, FRANCE
Characterization of the modifier gene forage-at-onset of glaucoma at chromosome 20q13 (first application)
Vincent Raymond, Université Laval
In collaboration with: Walter, Michael A., University of Alberta, Alberta, CANADA
Mécanisme d’abolition de l’activité enzymatique des mutants de la lécithine rétinol acyltransférase qui mènent à la rétinite pigmentaire et l’amaurose congénitale de Leber (renewal)
Christian Salesse, Université Laval
In collaboration with: Manuel Prieto, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbonne, PORTUGAL
Wide-scale calcium imaging of cortical connectivity networks reorganization after a visual deficit: influence of the cholinergic system (renewal)
Elvire Vaucher, Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Majid H. Mohajerani, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, CANADA
The following project was funded by the Fondation Antoine-Turmel.
The role of eye movements and attention in improving visual perception (renewal)
Aarlenne Khan, Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Gunnar Blohm, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, CANADA
The neural substrate of the binocular changes that occur after short-term monocular deprivation in primates
Robert Hess, McGill University
In collaboration with: Frédéric Chavane, Université d’Aix-Marseille, FRANCE
Projections visuelles corticothalamiques au pulvinar
Denis Boire, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
In collaboration with James Bourne, Monash University, AUSTRALIE
Caractérisation des interactions synergiques entre les cellules cancéreuses du mélanome uvéal et les cellules stromales de leur environnement afin de mieux comprendre sa résistance thérapeutique
Solange Landreville, Université Laval
In collaboration with: Frédéric Mouriaux, Université de Rennes, FRANCE
Mécanisme d’abolition de l’activité enzymatique des mutants de la lécithine rétinol acyltransférase qui mènent à la rétinite pigmentaire et l’amaurose congénitale de Leber
Christian Salesse, Université Laval
In collaboration with: Manuel Prieto, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbonne, PORTUGAL
Wide-scale calcium imaging of cortical connectivity networks reorganization after a visual deficit: influence of the cholinergic system
Elvire Vaucher, Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Majid H. Mohajerani, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, CANADA
The 2 following projects were funded by the Fondation Antoine-Turmel.
Efficacy of innovative topical application of CD36 modulator, DBG178, in (model of) choroidal neovascularization
Sylvain Chemtob, Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Ashim Mitra, University of Missouri-Kansas City, ÉTATS-UNIS
The role of eye movements and attention in improving visual perception
Aarlenne Khan, Université de Montréal
In collaboration with: Gunnar Blohm, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, CANADA
