Recipients

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

August 1, 2023

Hugo LADRET , PhD Student, School of Optometry / University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr Christian Casanova
Co-total: Dr. Larent Perrinet (Aix-Marseilles University)
Publication: Ladret HJ, Cortes N, Ikan L, Chavane F, Casanova C, Perrinet LU. Cortical recurrence supports resilience to sensory variance in the primary visual cortex , Communications Biology, 6 (1), June 2023.

My name is Hugo Ladret, and my academic career, interdisciplinary by choice, spans a period of exactly 10 years. My training begins with a bachelor’s degree in cell biology at the University of Aix-Marseille, where I spend 2 years in parallel with my courses in a laboratory working on cortical plasticity (Ingrid Bureau, Institut de Neurobiologie de la Méditerranée). I then move on to a Master’s degree in Computational and Cognitive Neuroscience at the same university, strengthening my skills in mathematics, signal processing and analysis, under the supervision of Dr. Laurent Perrinet. In the second year of my master’s degree, I do a 4-month internship in the laboratory of Prof. Christian Casanova (UdeM), renewing my initial training as a biologist. Since September 2019, I have been a joint doctoral student under the supervision of these two researchers, using my knowledge of biological neural networks to build the artificial neural networks of tomorrow.

Masayuki HATA , Postdoctoral fellow, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr. Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha
Publication: Hata M, Hata M, Andriessen EM, Juneau R, Pilon F, Crespo-Garcia S, Diaz-Marin R, Guber V, Binet F, Fournier F, Buscarlet M, Grou C, Calderon V, Heckel E, Melichar HJ, Joyal JS, Wilson AM, Sapieha P. Early-life peripheral infections reprogram retinal microglia and aggravate neovascular age-related macular degeneration in later life , Journal of Clinical Investigation, 133 (4), February 2023.

Masayuki Hata was a postdoctoral researcher (completed in September 2022) in the laboratory of Professor Przemyslaw Sapieha at the University of Montreal in the field of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and is currently an Assistant Professor at Kyoto University, Japan. His research interests include understanding innate immunity in pathological angiogenesis and neuroinflammatory diseases. Since obtaining his MD and starting his career as an ophthalmologist in 2007, followed by doctoral and postdoctoral studies in basic sciences, he has been continuously involved in research on AMD and retinal degenerative diseases. He has conducted research on elucidating pathological mechanisms, drug discovery, and precision medicine in these diseases using various approaches in basic, clinical, and translational research. He has published 85 peer-reviewed scientific articles (28 as first author) in journals in the fields of ophthalmology and basic sciences. He has published articles as first author or corresponding author in high impact journals such as Science, JCI, PNAS, IOVS, Retina, AJO and Ophthalmology Retina. His recent work on the role of innate immunity in pathological angiogenesis and vascular remodeling has been published in Science (as first author), Journal of Clinical Investigation (as first author), Science (co-author) and EMBO Molecular Medicine (co-author). He has given more than 30 presentations at various meetings.

*Jacques-Genest Star Emerging Talent Award (FRQS) – July 2024*
*Brain Awareness Award -Canadian Association for Neurosciences-Canadian Association for Neuroscience (CAN-ACN) 2023*

Gaëlle Stéphanie MAWAMBO TAGNE , Postdoctoral fellow, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr. Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha
Publication: Gaëlle Mawambo, Malika Oubaha, Yusuke Ichiyama, Guillaume Blot, Sergio Crespo-Garcia, Agnieszka Dejda, François Binet, Roberto Diaz-Marin, Christina Sawchyn, Mikhail Sergeev, Rachel Juneau, Randal J. Kaufman, El Bachir Affar, Frédérick A. Mallette, Ariel M. Wilson and Przemyslaw Sapieha. HIF1α-dependent hypoxia response in myeloid cells requires IRE1α , Journal of Neuroinflammation, 20 (1), June 2023.

Born in Douala, Cameroon, I immigrated to Canada in 2008 where I began my academic journey with a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at the University of Montreal. Subsequently, I joined Dr. Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha’s research team to pursue my graduate studies in biochemistry by making a direct transition from master’s to doctorate. During my graduate studies, I greatly contributed to the majority of the laboratory’s publications, including our team’s first innovative project (Binet F, Mawambo G, et al. Cell Metabolism, 2013) which demonstrated the ability of the axon guidance molecule, netrin-1, to induce the secretion of the pro-angiogenic factor VEGF-A by brain macrophages or microglia in the context of vascular retinopathy, the leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries. Still in the same pathology, we then published an article (Dejda A & Mawambo G, et al. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2014) showing the impact of the neuropillin-1 receptor. My latest study recently published and currently presented as part of the Vision Network Prize, closes my doctoral work and focuses on a new mechanism involving a collaboration between the endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway, more precisely the IRE1α pathway, and the HIF1α-mediated hypoxia response pathway. Our article demonstrates the impact of the convergent mechanism between these 2 pathways at the level of myeloid cells which leads to the production of cytokines such as IL1β, IL6 and VEGF-A involved in the progression of retinopathies.

Recipients of the development scholarships

March 1, 2023

Pascale CHARPENTIER (laboratory: Dr. Stéphanie Proulx)
Master’s student – Université Laval
Congress: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting 2023 – April 23 to 27, 2023, Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, United States
Title: Role of SLC4A11 and its Third Extracellular Loop in Adhesion of Corneal Endothelium.

Samantha SASSEVILLE (laboratoire: Dre Stéphanie Proulx)
Étudiante à la maîtrise – Université Laval
Congrès: Association for Research in Vision and Ophtalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting 2023 – 23 au 27 avril 2023, Ernest N. Morial Convention Centre, Nouvelle-Orléans, États-Unis
Titre: Impact of Substrate Stiffness on Human Corneal Endothelial Cells. Olivier CHANCY (laboratoire: Dre Solange Landreville)
Étudiant au doctorat – Université Laval
Congrès: Association for Research in Vision and Ophtalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting 2023 – 23 au 27 avril 2023, Ernest N. Morial Convention Centre, Nouvelle-Orléans, États-Unis
Titre: Tumorigenic properties of uveal melanoma cancer cells cultured in 3D or on a reconstructed extracellular matrix. Kelly COUTANT (laboratoire: Dre Solange Landreville)
Étudiante au doctorat – Université Laval
Congrès: Association for Research in Vision and Ophtalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting 2023 – 23 au 27 avril 2023, Ernest N. Morial Convention Centre, Nouvelle-Orléans, États-Unis
Titre: Hepatic pre-metastatic niche formation by uveal melanoma extracellular vesicles. Dominique GEOFFRION (laboratoire: Dr Mona Harissi-Dagher et Miguel N. Burnier)
Étudiante au MDCM-PhD – Université McGill
Congrès: Pan-American Congress of Ophthalmology – 17 au 20 mars 2023, La Rural, Buenos Aires, Argentine
Titre (4 présentations): Clinical & hitopathological study of corneal stromal dystrophies: A 15-year experience in Canada, Clinical & hitopathological study of pterygia: A 15-year experience in Canada, Feasibility and outcomes of endoscopyassisted total pars plana vitrectomy at the time keratoprosthesis et Novel technique of concomitant endoscopy-assisted total pars plana vitrectomy in Boston keratoprosthesis type 1. Julie OUERFELLI-ETHIER (laboratoire: Dr Aarlenne Khan et Laure Pisella)
Étudiante au doctorat – École d’optométrie-Université de Montréal
Congrès: Vision Sciences Society – 19 au 24 mai 2023, TradeWinds Island Resorts, St. Pete Beach, États-Unis
Titre: Posterior parietal cortex damage causes endpoint biases relative to the visual target during antisaccades. Pedro SANTOS-FRANÇA (laboratoire: Dr Michel Cayouette)
Étudiant au doctorat – Institut de recherche clinique de Montréal
Congrès: 11th Canadian Developmental Biology Conference – 23 au 25 mars 2023, Marriot Bonvoy conference center – Mont Sainte-Anne, Beaupré, Canada
Titre: Ikzf2 regulates amacrine cell diversification in the developing mouse retina. Ange TCHATCHOUANG (laboratoire: Dre Stéphanie Proulx)
Étudiant au doctorat – Université Laval
Congrès: Association for Research in Vision and Ophtalmology (ARVO) Annual Meeting 2023 – 23 au 27 avril 2023, Ernest N. Morial Convention Centre, Nouvelle-Orléans, États-Unis
Titre: Expression of Endothelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Related Proteins in Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy Cells ex vivo and in vitro. Katarzyna JUREWICZ (laboratoire: Dr Suresh Krishna)
Stagiaire postdoctorale – Université McGill
Congrès: Canadian Neuroscience Meeting – 28 au 31 mai 2023, Hotel Bonaventure Montreal (Congress Center), Montréal, Canada
Titre: Trans-saccadic information carry-over in visual search.

June 1, 2023

Samantha BOUDREAU (laboratory: Dr Michel Cayouette)
Master’s student – Montreal Clinical Research Institute
Congress: FASEB: The Biology and Chemistry of Vision Conference- June 25 to 29, 2023, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, Arizona, United States
Title: Uncovering the role of Podocalyxin-like protein (Podxl) in photoreceptor polarity and function.

Luke (Ajay) DAVID (laboratory: Dr Michel Cayouette)
Doctoral student – Montreal Clinical Research Institute
Congress: XVI European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease – July 8-11, 2023, Esterel Congress Center (ECC), Berlin, Germany
Title: Unlocking the regenerative potential of the mammalian retina.

Francis NOËL (laboratory: Dr. Élodie Boisselier)
Doctoral student – Laval University
Research Internship: Dr. Stefan W. Vetter’s Laboratory – August 15 to November 15, 2023, School of Pharmacy, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, United States
Title: Studying interactions between RAGE, S100A16 and Annexin A4 using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR).

September 1, 2023

Catarina Sofia MICAELO FERNANDES (laboratory: Dr Maurice Ptito and Jean-François Bouchard)
Doctoral student – School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Congress: IBRO 2023 – IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience – September 9 to 13, 2023, Granada Exhibition and Conference Centre, Granada, Spain
Title: Anatomical evidence that the visual cortex is a potential model for studying the effects of cannabinoids.

Shima SHIRZAD (laboratory: Dr Elvire Vaucher)
Doctoral student – School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Congress: The European Retina Meeting 2023 – September 17-20, 2023, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
Title: Effect of laser-induced choroidal neovascularization on visual function in mice.

December 1, 2023

No candidates

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

March 15, 2023 (1st session – summer 2023)

Mastery Category
Alexa SILVA SOSA , under the supervision of: Dr. Malika Oubaha
University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM)
Subject: The role of senescent microglia in vascular development.

Category Doctorate
Shaymaa KHAZAAL , under the supervision of: Dr. Malika Oubaha
University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM)
Subject: Cellular Senescence and Stemness in Retinopathies Treatment.

July 15, 2023 (1st session – fall 2023)

Mastery Category
Julia FORESTELL , under the co-supervision of: Drs Arjun Krishnaswamy and Erik Cook
McGill University
Topic: The Role of Serotonergic Neuromodulation in Visual Attention and ASD.

Noa KEMP, sous la supervision de: Dr Suresh Krishna
Université McGill
Sujet: Interactions between visual and auditory processing, attention and eye-movements. Audrey LAMY-PROULX, sous la co-supervision de: Drs Ian Charest et Frédéric Gosselin
Université de Montréal
Sujet: La reconstruction des images mentales grâce à Bubbles et à l’électroencéphalographie.

Category Doctorate
Cornelius CRIJNEN , under the supervision of: Dr Shahab Bakhtiari
University of Montreal
Subject: An Artificial Neural Network model of human visual system: the role of ecological experience.

November 15, 2023 (1st session – winter 2024)

Category Doctorate
Xinyue MA , under the co-supervision of: Drs Arjun Krishnaswamy and Erik Cook
McGill University
Subject: Mapping and modeling subcellular and population dynamics on visual neurons during attention.

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

August 1, 2022

Alexandre LACHANCE , MD-MSc student, Laval University
Laboratory: Dr Ali Dirani
Publication:: Lachance A, Godbout M, Antaki F, Hébert M, Bourgault S, Caissie M, Tourville É, Durand A, Dirani A. Predicting Visual Improvement After Macular Hole Surgery: A Combined Model Using Deep Learning and Clinical Features , Translational Vision Science & Technology, 11 (4), April 2022.

Alexandre Lachance completed both his medical studies (MD) and his master’s degree (MSc) at Université Laval. He completed two years of PharmD at Université Laval during which he conducted research in neuroscience related to schizophrenia before being accepted into the MD-MSc program at Université Laval. He is involved in numerous clinical research projects in the field of surgical retina, focusing specifically on artificial intelligence, macular holes and retinal dystrophies. Under the supervision of Dr. Ali Dirani at the University Ophthalmology Center (CUO) of the University Hospital Center (CHU) of Quebec, his research mainly aims to improve the management of patients with macular holes by attempting to predict the post-operative visual gain of these patients, with the help of innovative methods such as artificial intelligence. Throughout his academic training, he has developed a solid research background, accumulating 7 publications in peer-reviewed journals, 24 presentations at regional, national and international conferences, and he has received a total of 9 research awards and grants, including the prestigious Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Research Grant. He was also one of the seven expert panelists at the 2022 Annual Meeting in Denver, Colorado, of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in the segment on vitreoretinal surgery.

February 1, 2023

Kadjita ASUMBISA , PhD Student, McGill University
Laboratory: Dr Stuart Trenholm
Publication: Asumbisa K, Peyrache A, Trenholm S. Flexible cue anchoring strategies enable stable head direction coding in both sighted and blind animals , Nature Communications, 13 (1), September 2022.

After completing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at the University of Ghana, I was awarded a full government scholarship to pursue a Master of Science in Neuroscience at the Kavli Institute for Systems Neuroscience (Trondheim, Norway), where I worked with Dr. Cliff Kentros on cognitive control and spatial memory. I began my studies in 2014, when the Nobel Prize in Physiology was awarded to May-Britt Moser and Edvard I. Moser of the Kavli Institute, shared with John O’Keefe, for their discovery of cells that constitute a brain positioning system. This exposed me to wide-ranging and interesting discussions on the brain circuits involved in spatial navigation, and fueled my interest in this topic as well as memory. In completing my Master’s degree, I was particularly interested in understanding how sensory information shapes our internal spatial representation. I joined two collaborating labs at McGill University, those of Drs. Stuart Trenholm and Adrien Peyrache, to pursue this interest at the doctoral level. There, I studied the head direction system in blind mice. The first part of this project was recently published in Nature Communications: mice are flexible in the absence of vision; they can use olfaction to anchor their representation of their head direction. This study is one of the first to explore head direction coding in freely moving blind animals, and also demonstrates the brain’s remarkable ability to adapt to major sensory loss.

Kelly COUTANT , PhD Student, Laval University
Laboratory: Dr. Solange Landreville
Publication: Piquet L, Coutant K, Mitchell A, Ben Anes A, Bollmann E, Schoonjans N, Bérubé J, Bordeleau F, Brisson A, Landreville S. Extracellular Vesicles from Ocular Melanoma Have Pro-Fibrotic and Pro-Angiogenic Properties on the Tumor Microenvironment , Cells, 11 (23), November 2022.

During her academic career, Kelly Coutant obtained a master’s degree with thesis in biology, biotechnology and therapeutic research at the University of Nantes (France). During her second master’s internship, she studied the role of extracellular vesicles in the development of the intervertebral disc under the supervision of Professor Anne Camus. Passionate about this booming field, her research on extracellular vesicles continued by joining Professor Solange Landreville’s team in 2020 to begin a doctorate in cellular and molecular biology at Université Laval. Her current research focuses on the role of extracellular vesicles in choroidal homeostasis and in pathologies associated with this tissue such as uveal melanoma and age-related macular degeneration. Her multidisciplinary project allows her to acquire expertise in the characterization of extracellular vesicles, with the murine model and with microscopy techniques developed for mechanobiology. Kelly Coutant participates in various collaborative projects and is a student very involved in the various committees/activities of her research center and Laval University.

Catarina MICAELO-FERNANDES , PhD Student, School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Laboratory: Drs Maurice Ptito/Jean-François Bouchard
Publication: Micaelo-Fernandes C, Bouskila J, Palmour RM, Bouchard JF, Ptito M. Age and Sex-Related Changes in Retinal Function in the Vervet Monkey , Cells, 11 (17), September 2022.

My interest in vision sciences brought me across the ocean to join Dr. Maurice Ptito and Dr. Jean-François Bouchard at the School of Optometry of the University of Montreal after obtaining my medical degree from the University of Lisbon in 2019. My PhD project aims to characterize the neuroanatomical distribution of the endocannabinoid system in several subcortical and cortical visual structures of the vervet monkey. This knowledge will help to better understand how cannabinoids acutely and chronically modify visual perception and influence plasticity during critical periods of brain development. Establishing this neurobiological link is essential to inform health prevention policies and to shape society’s attitude towards cannabis use. It could also support the scientific community in the development of cannabinoid-based pharmacological strategies for various medical conditions. By combining my clinical and research experience with an optimal research environment, I was awarded a PhD scholarship from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and received several awards for my research (among others, awards from the Vision Health Research Network).

Recipients of the development scholarships

March 1, 2022

Kadjita ASUMBIA (laboratory: Dr Stuart Trenholm)
PhD student – Montreal Neurological Institute – McGill University
Congress: Computational and Systems Neuroscience (COSYNE) 2022 – March 16-22, 2022, Lisboa Congress Center, Lisbon, Portugal
Title: Flexible cue anchoring strategies enable stable head direction coding in blind animals.

Deborah VILLAFRANCA-BAUGHMAN NOEL (laboratory: Dr. Adriana Di Polo)
Doctoral student – CHUM Research Center – University of Montreal
Congress: The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) – May 1-4, 2022, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, Colorado, United States
Title: A novel femtomolar hemodynamic modulation strategy reveals major microvascular defects in glaucoma at single-pericyte scale.

June 1, 2022

Gabrielle AUBIN (laboratory: Dr Walter Wittich)
Doctoral student – School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Congress: 13th International Society for Low Vision Research and Rehabilitation conference (Vision 2022) – 5 to 8 July 2022, The Convention Centre Dublin (CCD), Dublin, Ireland
Title: Words on the Brain: Can Reading Rehabilitation for Low Vision Improve Cognitive Functioning?

Anne Xuan-Lan NGUYEN (laboratory: Dr. Isabelle Hardy)
Medical Student – McGill University
Training: Ophthalmic Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine (Dr Albert Wu laboratory) – July 4 to 31, 2022, Stanford, California, United States
Title: A novel femtomolar hemodynamic modulation strategy reveals major microvascular defects in glaucoma at single-pericyte scale.

September 1, 2022

Katarzyna JUREWICZ (laboratory: Dr Suresh Krishna)
Postdoctoral fellow – McGill University
Training: EMBO practical course: Barcelona Summer School for advanced modeling of behavior – September 1st to 8 2022, Center de Recerca Matemàtica, Barcelona, Spain
Title: Modeling goal-directed search during active vision.

December 1, 2022

No winner

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

March 15, 2022 (1st session – summer 2022)

Mastery Category
Clément DELCAMP , under the co-supervision of: Drs Syrina Al Aïn and Johannes Frasnelli
University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières (UQTR)
Subject: Congenital blindness in mice as a new animal model of autism? Behavioral comparison and neuroanatomical comparison of a mouse model of congenital blindness, with a mouse model of autism, exposed in utero to acid valproic acid (VPA) mice.

Category Doctorate
*Mohammad Reza HABIBI KAVASHKOVIE , under the supervision of: Dr. Malika Oubaha
University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM)
Subject: Targeting the SASP in retinal ganglion cell to improve diabetic retinopathy.

Camille MICHAUD, sous la supervision de: Dr Michel Cayouette
Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM) – Université de Montréal
Sujet: Targeting the SASP in retinal ganglion cell to improve diabetic retinopathy.

July 15, 2022 (1st session – fall 2022)

Mastery Category
Cloé MARANDA , under the supervision of: Dr. Élodie Boisselier
Laval University
Subject: The study of mucoadhesion of nanoparticles.

*Amanda PRUSS, sous la co-supervision de: Dr Suresh Krishna et Christopher Pack
Université McGill
Sujet: Visual information transfer across eye-movements: basic science and clinical implications. Cyrine TABELSIsous la supervision de: Dre Syrina Al Aïn
Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR)
Sujet: Effets de la cécité sur le développement et la plasticité du système olfactif. Yurou ZHANGsous la supervision de: Dr Amir Schmuel
Université McGill
Sujet: Evaluation, optimization and validation of structural and functional MRI-based parcellation of the visual cortex.

Category Doctorate
Catarina Maria Cataldi Sabino de Araújo , under the supervision of: Dr Pierre Hardy
CHU-Sainte-Justine Research Center – University of Montreal
Subject: Development of a pharmacological approach with combination of chemotherapeutics for targeted treatment of retinoblastoma.

Joshua SIMMONDS, sous la supervision de: Dr Walter Wittich
École d’optométrie – Université de Montréal

November 15, 2022 (1st session – winter 2023)

Mastery Category
Yohaï-Eliel BERREBY , under the supervision of: Dr Suresh Krishna
McGill University
Subject: Building bridges between neuroscience and AI: the case of active vision.

Oren GUREVITCH, sous la co-supervision de: Drs Suresh Krishna et Simone Dalla Bella
Université McGill
Sujet: Musical vision: vision and visual attention in music.

Category Doctorate
Ismaël BACHAND , under the supervision of: Dr Jean-François Bouchard
School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Subject: The CB2 receptor: a new pharmacological target for optic nerve regeneration.

Postdoctoral Intern Category
Giulia Elisa GUIMARÃES GONÇALVES , under the supervision of: Dr. Élodie Boisselier
Laval University
Subject: Mimicking the tear film using Langmuir monolayers – an approach to better understand the different interactions involving mucoadhesive gold nanoparticles, mucins and lipids from the tear film.

*Candidates also funded by the Antoine-Turmel Foundation

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

August 1, 2021

Sergio CRESPO-GARCIA , Postdoctoral fellow, CR Hôpital-Maisonneuve-Rosemont, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr. Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha
Publication: Crespo-Garcia S, Tsuruda PR, Dejda A, Ryan RD, Fournier F, Chaney SY, Pilon F, Dogan T, Cagnone G, Patel P, Buscarlet M, Dasgupta S, Girouard G, Rao SR, Wilson AM, O’Brien R, Juneau R, Guber V, Dubrac A, Beausejour C, Armstrong S, Mallette FA, Yohn CB, Joyal JS, Marquess D, Beltran PJ, Sapieha P. Pathological angiogenesis in retinopathy engages cellular senescence and is amenable to therapeutic elimination via BCL-xL inhibition , Cell Metabolism, February 5, 2021.

Sergio Crespo-Garcia is a postdoctoral researcher in the field of retinal degeneration and diabetes. His research interests are to better understand the interactions between neurons, blood vessels and immune cells in the retina affected by ocular disease. Sergio has published numerous articles in highly regarded peer-reviewed journals, thus contributing to our understanding of neurodegeneration. retinal. He is a scholarship holder from the Fonds de la recherche en Santé du Québec and the Montreal Diabetes Research Center. Currently, Sergio is supervising several studies in the laboratory of Professor Przemyslaw Sapieha at University of Montreal and is the Canadian coordinator of the Marie Curie Alumni North America Chapter.

Sergio participated in the European Commission Marie Curie ITN REVAMMAD project which aimed to improve the diagnostics and understanding of blindness. It was at this time that he completed a training program postgraduate studies at the University of Lincoln, UK. He previously obtained his PhD in Biomedicine from Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany. She was awarded the Dr. Margot Engelmann Stiftung Prize for her dissertation performance.

Sergio obtained his Master’s degree in Genetics and Cell Biology from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, and was awarded the Master’s Program Prize Obra Social Fundación “la Caixa”. He previously obtained his B.Sc. from the IE University in Spain, graduating with honors.

*FRQS Jacques-Genest Star Rising Star Award – April 2021*

Mercedes GAUTHIER , Doctoral student, Montreal School of Advanced Technology and McGill University
Laboratory: Dr Jean-Marc Lina and Dr Pierre Lachapelle
Publication: Gauthier M, Brassard-Simard A, Gauvin M, Lachapelle P, Lina JM. Multi-Angular Electroretinography (maERG): Topographic mapping of the retinal function combining real and virtual electrodes , Biomedical Engineering, April 27, 2021.

Combining technology with biology has always motivated me, which is why I undertook my bachelor’s degree at McGill University in Neuroscience, with a minor in computer science. Pursuing this idea, I am currently completing my PhD at the École de Technologie Supérieure de Montréal, under the supervision of Professors Jean-Marc Lina of the Department of Electrical Engineering, and Pierre Lachapelle of the Department of Ophthalmology at McGill University. By combining their expertise, I was able to establish new protocols for recording and analyzing electroretinogram (ERG), the only objective tool that allows the analysis of retinal function. More specifically, we have created a new ERG recording protocol, called multi-angular ERG, which allows topographic imaging of retinal function. This new technique uses 3 electrodes and 11 gaze positions to record 33 different ERGs around the eye, which are used to recreate the image of the retinal activity that produced these signals. The research produced during my doctoral studies will therefore make it possible to image retinal function, which should make it possible to locate and detect scotomas on the retina more quickly and thus better monitor retinopathies.

Dominique GEOFFRION , MDCM-PhD student, McGill University
Laboratory: Dr. Mon Harissi-Dagher (CHUM) and Dr. Robert Koenekoop (McGill)
Publication: Geoffrion D, Robert MC, Di Polo A, Koenekoop RK, Agoumi Y, Harissi-Dagher M. Tear Film Cytokine Profile of Patients With the Boston Keratoprosthesis Type 1: Comparing Patients With and Without Glaucoma , Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, April 1, 2021.

Dominique Geoffrion is currently pursuing both her MDCM and PhD degrees at McGill University (2018-2023). She completed her Honours Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences at the Université de Montréal in 2017 and completed one year of Master’s studies in Cancer Genetics at McGill University, before being accepted into McGill’s prestigious combined MD-PhD program. Under the co-supervision of Dr. Mona Harissi-Dagher at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM) and Dr. Robert Koenekoop at McGill University, her research in the Department of Experimental Surgery aims to improve the management and understanding of the mechanisms of glaucoma following artificial corneal transplant surgery (keratoprosthesis), particularly with the new identification of tear cytokines that would prolong glaucoma damage several years after surgery. During her past training, she developed solid research experience, having carried out several projects of research in pharmacology, oncology and genomics. So far, she has published 11 publications, given 43 presentations at international conferences, and has received a total of 30 research grants and awards. She is even a co-recipient of two major university research grants in vision sciences. More Recently, she has established international collaborations with the keratoprosthesis team at Harvard University. She has set up a whole multidisciplinary research program which studies glaucoma occurring after a keratoprosthesis surgery from humans to mice. This program will lay crucial foundations for future inter-university collaborations.
*RECIPE OF A SCHOLARSHIP FROM THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTREAL*

February 1, 2022

No recipients

Recipients of the development scholarships

December 1, 2021

Francis NOEL (laboratory: Dr. Élodie Boisselier)
Doctoral student – Laval University
Short-term training: Dr. Stefan W. Vetter’s laboratory, located at North Dakota State University (School of Pharmacy) – February 1 to April 1, 2022, Fargo, North Dakota, United States
Title: Role of S100A16 and Annexin A4 proteins in maintaining photoreceptor membrane integrity.

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

March 15, 2021 (1st session – summer 2021)

Category Doctorate
Maxime BLEAU , under the supervision of: Dr Maurice Ptito
School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Subject: Neural correlates of spatial navigation in the blind.

Yara MOHIAR, sous la supervision de: Drs Rémy Allard et Judith Renaud
École d’optométrie – Université de Montréal
Sujet: The effect of myopia on photoreceptor absorption rate.

July 15, 2021 (1st session – fall 2021)

Mastery Category
Catherine ALBERT , under the supervision of: Drs Matthieu Vanni and Jean-François Bouchard
School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Subject: Calcium imaging study of functional reorganization after stroke in mice following preventive and post-administration of a β-receptor agonist or antagonist cannabinoids CB2.

*Geneviève RODRIGUE, sous la supervision de: Dr Rémy Allard
École d’optométrie – Université de Montréal
Sujet: Utilisation de la sensibilité au mouvement pour détecter les premiers signes de la dégénérescence maculaire liée à l’âge. Xingqi (Raffles) ZHU, sous la supervision de: Drs Robert Hess et Alexander Baldwin
McGill Vision Research – McGill University Health Center
Sujet: The neural basis of the visual acuity deficit in amblyopia will be investigated using an equivalent noise analysis.

Category Doctorate
Annabel Wing-Yan FAN , under the supervision of: Dr Alexander Baldwin
McGill Vision Research – McGill University Health Center
Subject: How do age-related changes in visual information processing impact driving performance in older adults?

Mostafa Zamani ROUDBARAKI, sous la supervision de: Drs May Griffith et Christos Boutopoulos
Centre de recherche de l’Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont – Université de Montréal
Sujet: Tailored treatments for end-stage corneal blindness with composite injectable liquid corneas.

Postdoctorate Category
Karine ROVERSI , under the supervision of: Drs May Griffith and Sébastien Talbot
Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center – University of Montreal
Subject: Controlling corneal pain and inflammation.

November 15, 2021 (1st session – winter 2022)

Mastery Category
*Pénélope ABRAM , under the supervision of: Dr Sylvain Chemtob
Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center – University of Montreal
Topic: The role of mast cells in retinal pigment epithelium degeneration and loss of photoreceptors in a model of retinal degeneration.

Category Doctorate
Charlotte BÉTUS , under the supervision of: Dr Jean-Sébastien Joyal
CHU Sainte-Justine – University of Montreal
Subject: In situ Synthesis of Ketone Bodies by Retinal Endothelial Cells Promotes Pathological Angiogenesis in Proliferative Retinopathy.

Postdoctorate Category
*Waqas NAWAS , under the supervision of: Drs Isabelle Brunette and Michel Meunier
Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center – University of Montreal
Subject: Laser Gene Therapy for Ocular Diseases.

*Candidates also funded by the Antoine-Turmel Foundation

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

August 1, 2020

Reza ABBAS FARISHTA , Doctoral student, School of Optometry, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr Christian Casanova
Publication: Abbas Farishta R, Boire D, Casanova C. Hierarchical Organization of Corticothalamic Projections to the Pulvinar , Cerebral Cortex Communications, July 7, 2020.

Holder of a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in optometry from the University of Paris-Sud-XI, I continued my academic career at the University of Montreal by completing a clinical master’s degree in vision science (2011). It was during this master’s year that I got a taste of research by studying the role of the cannabinoid system on the responses of the visual cortex (Abbas Farishta et al, IOVS 2015). Still in Dr. Casanova’s laboratory, I then embarked on a dual OD/PhD course. I obtained my doctorate in optometry in 2017 and am currently preparing my thesis defense for my PhD (2020). My doctoral studies focus on the role of transthalamic pathways in the visual system. By revealing for the first time that the transthalamic pathways, like the cortico-cortical pathways, are organized hierarchically, our work has allowed a better understanding of the thalamus and its role in the processing of visual information. My research work has been regularly highlighted by my peers and has notably allowed me to obtain the Gresset Simonet Prize in 2018, as well as the prestigious Ezell Fellowship of the American Academy of Optometry for the year 2019/2020. My clinical interests focus on a better understanding of optometric disorders with a cerebral component such as amblyopia as well as post-concussion neuro-optometric disorders. Next step: an internship postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Ophthalmology at McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Farivar in Vision binocular, neuro-optometry and medical imaging.

Léa RODRIGUEZ , Doctoral student, Université Laval
Laboratory: Dr Vincent Pernet
Publication: Rodriguez L, Joly S, Zine-Eddine F, Baya Mdzomba J, Pernet V. Tau modulates visual plasticity in adults and old mice , Neurology of aging, July 25, 2020.

During my Master’s degree in Neuroscience at the University of Aix-Marseille, I worked on the molecular mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative pathologies such as epilepsy, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases in the laboratories of Drs. Debanne and Fantini. The results I obtained allowed me to be associated as a co-author on publications in Scientific Report and PNAS. Interested in the mechanisms of degeneration and plasticity in the central nervous system, this led me to begin my doctorate in the laboratory of Dr. Pernet, one of whose research objectives is to study and understand the mechanisms of degeneration and plasticity of retinal ganglion cells. My current research focuses on the influence of the Tau protein in the physiology and mechanisms of visual neuroplasticity in adult mice and during aging. The results I obtained allowed me to publish my work in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience (2018), International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2020) and Neurobiology of Aging (2020) as lead author. Over the past two years, I have received the CHUL de Québec Foundation scholarship and the Thematic Center for Research in Neurosciences scholarship, the Lemaire Foundation scholarship and the FRQS doctoral scholarship. In parallel with my project, I participate in other projects of the laboratory allowing me to develop new expertise and to be co-author on several studies published in Glia (2018) or Cell Death and Disease (2018/2020).

February 1, 2021

Deborah Villafranca-Baughman , PhD student, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr. Adriana Di Polo
Publication: Alarcon-Martinez, L.*, Villafranca-Baughman, D.*, Quintero, H. Kacerovsky, B., Dotigny, F., Murai, KK, Prat, A., Drapeau, P., Di Polo, A. Interpericyte tunnelling nanotubes regulate neurovascular coupling , Nature, August 2020.

*These authors also contributed

I obtained my BSc degree at the Universitat de Barcelona, in Molecular Biology. Under the supervision of Dr. Rama, I studied indicators of oxidative and apoptotic damage in the brain of rats subjected to severe hypoxia. Subsequently, in Dr. Hyman’s laboratory (McGill University), I completed my undergraduate thesis examining the role of heme oxygenase-1 in aging and parkinsonian neural tissue of the GFAP.HMOX1 transgenic mouse model. I also participated in an immunohistochemical study investigating the expression of Alzheimer’s disease-related proteins. Under the supervision of Prof. Di Polo, I obtained my Master’s degree (UdeM) and started the PhD in Neuroscience. My PhD focuses on the mechanisms behind pericyte dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. During my PhD, I acquired expertise in microsurgical skills in mice, which resulted in a publication showing that retinal ischemia leads to vessel constriction by pericytes, cells located around the vessels (Acta Neuropathol. Commun., 2019, IF:5.93). In addition, I set up a new two-photon microscopy setup that produces high-resolution images of the retina in living animals. Thus, we demonstrated the existence of nanotube-like structures between pericytes that contribute to neurovascular responses (Nature., 2020, IF:43). Thus, my PhD will provide important insights into the molecular basis of pericyte contractility and microvascular regulation in neurodegenerative diseases with a vascular component such as glaucoma.
*FRQS Jacques-Genest Rising Star Prize – May 2021*

The following two prizes were funded by the Antoine-Turmel Foundation

Rabah DABOUZ , Doctoral student, McGill University
Laboratory: Dr Sylvain Chemtob
Publication: Dabouz R, Cheng CWH, Abram P, Omri S, Cagnone G, Sawmy KV, Joyal JS, Desjarlais M, Olson D, Weil AG, Lubell W, Rivera JC, Chemtob S. An allosteric interleukin-1 receptor modulator mitigates inflammation and photoreceptor toxicity in a model of retinal degeneration , Journal of Neuroinflammation, November 27, 2020.

Holder of a master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Montreal where I worked on the signaling pathways of G-protein coupled receptors in order to better understand their involvement in heart failure. Following the completion of the master’s degree, I joined a doctoral program in Pharmacology and Therapeutics at McGill University under the supervision of Dr. Sylvain Chemtob. My research aims to explore the different inflammatory mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration. This disease is a major cause of blindness in the world and it corresponds to the degeneration of photoreceptors. Our goal is to identify and modulate therapeutic targets in order to reduce the inflammatory response, preserve the photoreceptors, and thus prevent disease progression. We have demonstrated that allosteric modulation of the IL-1 receptor is a promising therapeutic avenue to suppress the inflammatory response and preserve the integrity of photoreceptors in degenerative ocular diseases. We hope that our work will serve as a basis for the development of future therapeutic strategies. My work is funded by the Fonds de Recherche du Québec-Santé.

Natalija POPOVIC , PhD student, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr Bruno Larrivee
Publication: Popovic N, Hooker E, Barabino A, Flamier A, Provost F, Buscarlet M, Bernier G, Larrivee B. COCO/DAND5 inhibitors developmental and pathological ocular angiogenesis , EMBO Molecular Medicine, February 15, 2021.

During my master’s studies in molecular cell biology at the University of Milan, I came to Montreal as a visiting research intern in the laboratory of Dr. Constantin Polychronakos, at McGill University. In 2014, I defended my thesis entitled “A mouse model for the human type 1 diabetes susceptibility locus PTPN22”. I also contributed to the project of a PhD student published in 2017, in the Journal of Autoimmunity, now a professor at Qingdao University, where I was invited to give a recruitment talk in 2019. I then worked as a research assistant in the laboratory of Prof. Mike Sapieha, at the CRHMR, where I contributed to two postdoctoral fellow projects, published in 2016 in Science Translational Medicine and in 2018 in Science Immunology. I received the PhD Student Performance Award from the FRQS Vision Health Research Network and the Suzanne Véronneau-Troutman & FROUM Scholarship from the Department of Ophthalmology. My PhD project “Characterization of a new anti-angiogenic protein for the treatment of ocular diseases “Neovascular Diseases”, supervised by Dr. Bruno Larrivée, received a grant from the CIHR. Starting in 2018 for three consecutive years, I received the “Bourse excellence du programme de Sciences biomédicales”. In 2018, I received the award for the best poster at the 30th “Journée de la recherche en Ophtalmologie de UdeM”. I also contributed to the flow cytometry experiments as a co-author for two publications in our laboratory published in Art. Thromb Vasc Biol and Oncogene. With a doctoral student in optometry and funding from the Besner-Valois Fund, I also created “Enseignement des techniques OCT et ERG pour la recherche visuel” at the CRHMR.

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

March 15, 2020 (1st session – summer 2020)

Category Doctorate
Francis NOEL , under the supervision of: Dr. Élodie Boisselier
Research Center of the CHU of Quebec (Hospital of the St. Sacrament) – Laval University
Subject: Role of S100A16 and Annexin A4 proteins in maintaining photoreceptor membrane integrity.

Victor PASSOS GIBSON, sous la supervision de: Dr Pierre Hardy
Centre de recherche du CHU Sainte-Justine – Université de Montréal
Sujet: Switchable lipid nanoparticles as a non-viral vector platform for the delivery of siRNA against survivin to retinoblastoma in vitro and in vivo.

Postdoctorate Category
Mohammad NOROUZI , under the supervision of: Dr Pierre Hardy
Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center – University of Montreal
Subject: Development of Pharmacological Approach for Targeted Treatment of Retinoblastoma.

July 15, 2020 (1st session – fall 2020)

Mastery Category
Véronique CHOUINARD , under the supervision of: Dr Matthieu Vanni
School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Subject: Effect of inactivation of cortical visual areas on perception in mice.

Aliona FEZOUA, sous la supervision de: Dre Pia Wintermark
CUSM – Centre universitaire de santé McGill – Université McGill
Sujet: Investigating the restorative effects of sildenafil on retinal damage in birth asphyxia.

Category Doctorate
Rui WANG , under the supervision of: Dr Pierre Hardy
Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center – University of Montreal
Subject: MiR-181a abrogates the dysregulated GPCR signaling in metastatic uveal melanoma.

Postdoctorate Category
Gupta SHIKHA , under the supervision of: Dr Walter Wittich
School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Subject: Exploring employment, education and technology use outcomes for Canadians who are blind, deafblind, partially sighted or hearing impaired, using the Canadian Survey on Disability.

November 15, 2020 (1st session – winter 2021)

Mastery Category
Olivier GOSSELIN , under the supervision of: Dr Christian Salesse
Research Center of the CHU of Quebec (Hospital of the St. Sacrament) – Laval University
Subject: Overexpression, purification and membrane binding of acylated and non-acylated forms of RP2 protein and its N-terminal segment.

Category Doctorate
Catarina Sofia MICAELO FERNANDES , under the supervision of: Drs Jean-François Bouchard and Maurice Ptito
School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Topic: Expression, localization and function of cannabinoid receptor type 1 in the colliculopulvinar pathway and the extrastriate cortex of the vervet monkey.

*Paul JAOUEN, sous la supervision de: Dre Élodie Boisselier
Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec (Hôpital du St-Sacrement) – Université Laval
Sujet: Interaction membranaire des protéines rétiniennes S100A1 et S100B.

*Candidates also funded by the Antoine-Turmel Foundation

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

August 1, 2019

Prize supported by the Antoine-Turmel Foundation

Michel DESJARLAIS , Postdoctoral fellow, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr Sylvain Chemtob
Publication: Desjarlais, M., Rivera JC, Lahaie I, Gagnone G, Wirt M, Omri S, Chemtob S. MicroRNA expression profile in oxygen-induced retinopathy model , PlosOne 2019 Jun 12;14(6).

Holder of a PhD in biomedical science from the University of Montreal, I am currently a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Sylvain Chemtob (MD, PhD) at the Maisonneuve Rosemont Hospital Research Center. My research aims to elucidate different mechanisms involved in the abnormal modulation of post-ischemic vascular development and repair (insufficient and excessive) during ischemic retinopathies (IRs). More precisely, I focus mainly on the identification of new post-transcriptional mechanisms including microRNAs that are altered during vascular degeneration. My work postdoctoral research represents a continuation of my previous research work carried out during my thesis PhD on the modulation of neovascularization mechanisms during cardiovascular diseases. Passionate about science, my research allows me to explore the function of miRNAs in vascular biology in a new pathological field (ophthalmology). I also hold a master’s and bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, and I am the recipient of more than 15 awards of excellence (including: 2015 and 2016 CRCHUM publication awards), author of 14 scientific articles including 7 as first author and recipient of the CRHMR postdoctoral fellowship (2018) and the University of Montreal ophthalmology fund (2019).

Pascale DESJARDINS , Doctoral student, Université Laval
Laboratory: Desjardins P, Couture C, Germain L, Guérin SL.
Publication: Popovic N, Hooker E, Barabino A, Flamier A, Provost F, Buscarlet M, Bernier G, Larrivee B. Contribution of the WNK1 kinase to corneal wound healing using the tissue-engineered human cornea as an in vitro model , J Tisue Eng Regen Med. 2019; 1–14.

I began my university training in Biomedical Sciences at Université Laval. As early as my Bachelor’s degree, I had the opportunity to complete several research internships in various fields. My first research work experience took place at the University Ophthalmology Center (CUORecherche/ LOEX) of the CHU de Québec under the supervision of Dr. Sylvain Guérin. I then had the opportunity to work on Alzheimer’s disease, Eph receptor signaling in cancer and the development of the respiratory control system. These internships quickly confirmed my interest in research. Having particularly enjoyed studying at the University Ophthalmology Center, I renewed my experience with Dr. Sylvain Guérin when I began my Master’s degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology in the fall of 2016. During these two years, I studied the role of different signaling mediators, including CREB, Akt and more particularly WNK1, on corneal wound healing, using the human cornea reconstructed by tissue engineering as a model. As for my PhD, which I started last fall, I am studying the specific contribution of the WNK1-SPAK/OSR1 signaling pathway and their effector proteins to corneal wound healing. In recent years, I have had the opportunity to travel to Honolulu, Greece and Switzerland in particular to present the results of my work at international conferences. In addition, my work has led to the publication of several scientific articles, in addition to leading to the establishment of a patent.

Seung Hyun (Sam) Min , PhD Student, McGill University
Laboratory: Dr. Robert Hess
Publication: Min SH, Baldwin AS, Hess RF. Ocular dominance plasticity: A binocular combination task finds no cumulative effect with repeated patching , Vision Res. 2019 Aug;161:36-42.

During high school, I was diagnosed with nerve damage in my right hand from playing the clarinet too much, leaving me with no choice but to become ambidextrous. I had to retrain my brain extensively so that my left hand could properly hold a pen or chopsticks, tasks that had previously been assigned to my right hand. The experience of my recovery sparked my interest in neural plasticity. So during my undergraduate studies, I completed the Anatomy and Cell Biology program at McGill University and graduated in the top 10% of my class in June 2017. Since then, I have worked for my graduate studies at McGill University with Prof. Robert Hess on neural plasticity. The goal of my thesis was to find ways to exploit the latent neural plasticity of the adult brain, a topic that related to my experiences with music. I now have 3 first-author publications, two of which are from my graduate work. In my free time, I practice the clarinet (yes, I still play) and read historical fiction novels. I am very grateful for this best publication award and for the support I received from my supervisors during my training.

February 1, 2020

Prize supported by the Antoine-Turmel Foundation

Michel DESJARLAIS , Postdoctoral fellow, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr Sylvain Chemtob
Publication: Desjarlais, M, Wirt M, Rivera JC, Lahaie I, Dabouz R, Omri S, Ruknudin P, Borras C, Chemtob S. microRNA- 96 promotes vascular repair in oxygen-induced retinopathy – a novel uncovered vasoprotective function , Front. Pharmacol. 2020 Feb 3; https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.00013

Holder of a PhD in biomedical science from the University of Montreal, I am currently a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of Dr. Sylvain Chemtob (MD, PhD) at the Maisonneuve Rosemont Hospital Research Center. My research aims to elucidate different mechanisms involved in the abnormal modulation of post-ischemic vascular development and repair (insufficient and excessive) during ischemic retinopathies (IRs). More precisely, I focus mainly on the identification of new post-transcriptional mechanisms including microRNAs that are altered during vascular degeneration. My work postdoctoral research represents a continuation of my previous research work carried out during my doctorate on the modulation of neovascularization mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases. Passionate about science, my research allows me to explore the function of microRNAs in vascular biology in a new pathological field (ophthalmology). I also hold a master’s and bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, and I am the recipient of more than 15 awards of excellence (including: 2015 and 2016 CRCHUM publication awards, 2019 RRVS), recipient of the gold Awards in 2017 at the Canadian conference of doctoral students in health research and, authors of 16 scientific articles including 8 as first authors. I am also the recipient of the CRHMR postdoctoral fellowship (2018) and the University of Montreal ophthalmology fund (2019, 2020).

Tianwei Ellen ZHOU , Resident, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr Sylvain Chemtob
Publication: Zhou TE, Zhu T, Rivera JC, Omri S, Tahiri H, Lahaie I, Rouget R, Wirth M, Nattel S, Lodygensky G, Ferbeyre G, Nezhady M, Desjarlais M, Chemtob S. The Inability of the Choroid to Revascularize in Oxygen-Induced Retinopathy Results from Increased P53/mir-Let-7b Activity , Am J Pathol. 2019 Nov; 189 (11):2340-2356.

Driven by curiosity, I joined the Cystic Fibrosis Research Institute of Montreal as an undergraduate student. I then joined McGill’s MD-PhD program, a pathway that combines medical innovation and compassionate care. During my PhD, I worked with Dr. Sylvain Chemtob, a neonatologist, and dedicated my thesis to retinopathy of prematurity, a blinding disease often seen in premature babies. My studies show that ROP is not a static disease, but a dynamic progression that can precipitate long-term retinal damage, highlighting the importance of longitudinal follow-ups for ROP patients. Gratefully, my research efforts have been supported by numerous national and provincial scholarships. In 2019, I was honored with the Scriver-Steinberg Convocation Prize which “recognizes a graduate with exceptional potential to translate knowledge into practice to make a difference in well-being.” As an ophthalmology resident at the University of Montreal, I am translating the doctoral thesis into a clinical study, which examines 1) whether infants with ROP experience retinal damage throughout childhood and adolescence; and 2) whether ROP patients have a higher risk of developing retinal diseases in adulthood. This project would help us better characterize the long-term implications of ROP and detect early signs of age-related retinal damage in former ROP patients.

Recipients of the development scholarships

September 1, 2019

Jiaru LIU (laboratory: Dr. Mona Harissi-Dagher)
Medical Student – External 2 (MDCM Program) – McGill University
Congress: American Association of Ophthalmology Annual Meeting – October 23-26, 2019, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (oral presentation)
Title: Soft Contact Lens Wear Folowing Boston Keratoprosthesis Type I.

Nicolas BELFORTE (laboratory: Dr. Adriana Di Polo)
Postdoctoral Fellow – University of Montreal
Congress: Society for Eye Research (ISER)/BrightFocus Glaucoma Symposium – October 11-13, 2019, San Francisco (California), United States (oral presentation)
Title: Activation of the energy biosensor AMPK triggers early dendritic retraction and neurodegeneration in glaucoma.

December 1, 2019

Gaëtan LE-BEL (laboratory: Dr. Lucie Germain)
Doctoral student – Laval University
Short-term training: Dr. Vincent Borderie, Vision Institute – January 6-10, 2020, Paris, France
Title: Observational internship on the extraction of keratocytes from human stromal stem cells CSSH differentiated in vitro.

Sarah ROY (laboratory: Dr Christian Salesse)
Doctoral student – Laval University
Congress: 64th Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society – February 15-19, 2020, San Diego, California, United States (poster presentation)
Title: Comparison between the enzymatic activity, structure and substrate binding of mouse and human lecithin retinol acyltransferase.

March 1, 2020

Edition cancelled (COVID-19)

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

November 15, 2019 (1st session – winter 2020)

Mastery Category
Catarina FERNANDES , under the supervision of: Dr Maurice Ptitor
School of Optometry – University of Montreal
Subject: Expression and localization of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 in the monkey colliculo-pulvinar pathway

Category Doctorate
Marc-Antoine MILLETTE , under the supervision of: Dr Christian Salesse
Laval University
Topic: Cloning, overexpression, purification and comparison of membrane binding of non-acylated and acylated rhodopsin kinase.

Postdoctorate Category
Rudi TONG , under the supervision of: Dr Stuart Trenholm
Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital – McGill University
Subject: Investigating the neural mechanism underlying invariant object and face recognition.

Category Professional Health Diploma / MD-MSc / MD-PhD
Dominique GEOFFRION , under the supervision of: Drs Adriana Di Polo, Mona Harissi-Dagher and Robert Koenekoop
CRCHUM – McGill University
Topic: Identifying and targeting functional mediators causing glaucoma after corneal transplantation: saving patients from irreversible blindness.

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

Jessica AGOSTINONE , Doctoral student, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr. Adriana Di Polo
Publication: Agostinone J, Alarcon-Martinez L, Gamlin C, Yu WQ, Wong ROL, Di Polo A. Insulin signaling promotes dendrite and synapse regeneration and restores circuit function after axonal injury , Brain. 2018 Jul 1;141(7):1963-1980.

During my university studies, I first completed a Master’s degree in Neuroscience in Dr. Di Polo’s laboratory. I then had the opportunity to accelerate my PhD. The acquisition of advanced expertise in vision and microsurgery in mice allowed me to be invited to a research internship in a renowned laboratory in the USA as well as to participate in several collaborations.

*FRQS Jacques-Genest Star Rising Star Award – December 2018*

Camille COUTURE , Doctoral student, Laval University
Laboratory: Dr. Lucie Germain and Dr. Sylvain Guérin
Publication: Couture C, Desjardins P, Zaniolo K, Germain L, Guérin SL. Enhanced wound healing of tissue-engineered human corneas through altered phosphorylation of the CREB and AKT signal transduction pathways , Acta Biomaterialia. 2018Jun;73:312-325.

I am currently a doctoral student in the cellular and molecular biology program at Université Laval, which I am doing under the supervision of Drs. Lucie Germain and Sylvain Guérin at the University Center. of Ophthalmology (CUO-research) at the CHU de Québec. In 2011, I began my studies in the Bachelor of Science biomedical sciences at Université Laval in order to acquire solid skills in basic research. This program, focused on practice, allowed me to complete several full-time internships in several research centers in Quebec City. In addition to my internships at the CUO-recherche, I also worked on asthma and male infertility. However, my growing passion for ophthalmology and my ease in tissue engineering pushed me to pursue a master’s degree in this field. My doctoral work at the CUO-recherche concerned the study of corneal wound healing. I am particularly interested in the cellular and molecular processes that take place during corneal injury, particularly in terms of changes in the expression of genes whose products ensure adequate healing of this tissue. As a model, I use human corneas reconstructed by tissue engineering, the methodology for which was developed at LOEX in Quebec City. Reconstructed corneas are a wonderful tool to study many aspects of the cornea even before using cadaveric corneas or animal models.

Hosni CHERIF and François DUHAMEL , Doctoral students, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr Jean-François Bouchard (HC) and Dr Sylvain Chemtob (FD)
Publication: Cherif H*, Duhamel F*, Cécyre B, Bouchard A, Quintal A, Chemtob S, Bouchard JF. Receptors of intermediates of carbohydrate metabolism, GPR91 and GPR99, mediate axon growth , PLoS Biol. 2018 May 17; 16(5).

*Equal contribution

Hosni CHERIF : Hosni Cherif obtained his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the Université du Québec à Montréal in 2009. He then continued his graduate studies at the Université de Montréal in the laboratory of Prof. Jean-François Bouchard. Hosni obtained his PhD in vision sciences / cellular and molecular biology in 2016. His thesis project demonstrated, for the first time, the involvement of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the growth and guidance of retinal ganglion cell axons during the establishment of visual circuits. Currently and as a postdoctoral fellow, he is working on the identification of new therapeutic targets for the treatment of spinal disorders and new biomarkers to improve conventional treatments.
Hosni received a Vision Network Recruitment Grant, a joint PhD fellowship from the Faculty of graduate studies and the School of Optometry (FESP-EOUM) and five scholarships from the Vision Sciences program. During During his postdoctoral training, he received research grants from the Cole Foundation, Mitacs-Accelerate, the Centre McGill University Health and the Oral and Bone Health Research Network. He presented his project at several national and international scientific conferences. The excellence of his work has been highlighted by the subsequent awarding of several Vision-FRQS network prizes for the best poster presentation in 2011 and 2012 and for the best publication in 2015 (Vision Network-FRQS) and in 2016 (CIHR Brain Awareness Award).

François DUHAMEL : After completing a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at the Université de Montréal, François completed a master’s degree in pharmacology at the Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer (IRIC), under the supervision of Dr. Sylvain Meloche. It was during his master’s degree that he developed expertise in cell signaling and growth, with his research project targeting the activation of the Jak/Stat pathway by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). François then continued his training by completing a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy at the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Université de Montréal, during which he received several awards for excellence and involvement, such as the Centennial Award from the Canadian Pharmacists Association and the National Summer Student Research Program award from Merck Frosst Canada.
Having become a clinical pharmacist, François began his doctorate in pharmacology at the Sainte- Justine in Dr. Sylvain Chemtob’s lab. Her research projects focus on the involvement of RCPGs, such as carbohydrate metabolism intermediate receptors, in network development retinal vascular and their role in ischemic retinopathies. During his doctorate, François has participated in the publication of nine articles to date and presented the results of his research projects at several national and international conferences (ARVO, Gordon Research, etc.). In addition, he has obtained numerous doctoral scholarships (FRQS, IRSC Banting & Best, Fondation des Étoiles & Fondation du CHU-Ste-Justine, FES-Hydro-Québec) and three prizes for the best presentation during a research day (oral and poster)

Ariel WILSON , Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr. Przemylaw (Mike) Sapieha
Publication: Wilson AM, Mazzaferri J, Bergeron É, Patskovsky S, Marcoux-Valiquette P, Costantino S, Sapieha P, Meunier M. In Vivo Laser-Mediated Retinal Ganglion Cell Optoporation Using KV1.1 Conjugated Gold Nanoparticles , Nano Lett. 2018Nov 14;18(11):6981-6988.

Ariel Wilson is a postdoctoral fellow in biochemistry in Dr. Sapieha’s laboratory at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center. She completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Dr. Meunier’s laboratory at the École Polytechnique de Montréal in engineering physics (2014-2017). Ariel completed her PhD in Dr. Di Polo’s laboratory in Pathology and Cell Biology at the Université de Montréal (2007-2014), her master’s degree in Dr. Albert’s laboratory in Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa (2004-2007) and her bachelor’s degree in Biology at McGill (2001-2004). Ariel received the prestigious Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada postdoctoral fellowship (2015-2017) as well as the MÉDITIS scholarship (2014-2015) for her research at the École Polytechnique de Montréal. She has 13 peer-reviewed journal articles, including first author papers in Science Immunology, Nano Letters, and Journal of Neuroscience. Ariel has given 31 presentations at national and international conferences, published 38 scientific abstracts, and has 2 patents. She won the 2018 HMR Best Scientific Paper Award for her publication in Science Immunology, has won 7 best presentation awards at various conferences, and has been awarded 5 travel grants. Ariel has extensive research experience, having worked in the areas of retinal gene therapy and neuronal survival (PDF, PhD), myeloid cell biology in the context of obesity (PDF), dopaminergic signaling pathways in the context of cellular transformation (MSc), and tight junction protein expression during oocyte development (BSc).

Prix Relève-étoile Jacques-Genest du FRQS – Septembre 2019

Corinne ZINFLOU , Doctoral student, Laval University
Laboratory: Dr. Patrick J. Rochette
Publication: Zinflou C, Rochette PJ. Absorption of blue light by cigarette smoke components is highly toxic for retinal pigmented epithelial cells , Arch Toxicol. 2018 Nov 13. doi: 10.1007/s00204-018-2344-3.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in biology from Université Laval, during which I completed a research internship under the supervision of Prof. Sylvain Guérin (PhD), at the CHU de Québec Research Center. This internship focused on the study of the molecular mechanisms modulating the gene expression of integrin α5, during the corneal healing process. At the end of my bachelor’s degree, my interest in topics linking health to the toxic potential of the environment led me to complete a master’s degree in experimental medicine (specializing in environmental toxicology), under the supervision of Prof. Pierre Ayotte (PhD), in the biomarker laboratory of the Centre de Toxicology de Québec (Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec). My project aimed to develop a method for using DNA repair capacity as a biomarker of susceptibility to chronic exposure to arsenic, a ubiquitous environmental pollutant.
I am currently pursuing my doctorate in the laboratory of Prof. Patrick Rochette (PhD), at the research center of CHU de Québec-Université Laval, in the Regenerative Medicine Axis. My project focuses on the toxic potential of light rays in the eye. It is divided into two main parts: the consequences of oxidation caused by ultraviolet-A rays at the cornea and the impact of blue light on the integrity of the retinal pigmented epithelium. In parallel with this project, I participated in a study aimed at estimating the aging of ocular tissues by means of the analysis of telomeric shortening, which led to a publication for which I am co-first author. The article that is the subject of this request is my third article. It is the result of the work carried out as part of the second part of my project. My doctoral studies allowed me to acquire a very varied technical expertise as well as a good knowledge of the molecular mechanisms related to oxidation. I have had the opportunity to present my work at several symposia and was awarded an award of excellence in the oral presentation category at the RRSV annual meeting in 2016 and at the Annual Ophthalmology Research Day in 2018. I was awarded travel grants to present my results in 2016 at the American Society for Photobiology biannual meeting held in Tampa Bay and in 2018 at the ARVO annual meeting held in Honolulu.

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

Summer session

Sara Alarcon Carrillo (laboratory: Robert Hess)
Bachelor of Science, McGill University

Olivier Bédard-Lapointe (laboratory: Solange Landreville)
Doctorate in medicine, Laval University

Camille Bérubé (laboratory: Christian Salesse)
Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, Université Laval

Marie-Hélène Charbonneau (laboratory: Sylvain Chemtob)
Doctorate in Medicine, University of Montreal

Ashim Das (laboratory: Jean-Sébastien Joyal)
Bachelor of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal

Isabelle Dubuc (laboratory: Elvire Vaucher)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montreal

Sarah Leah Eisenberg (laboratory: Pia Wintermark)
Bachelor of Biology, McGill University

Eve-Marie Frigon (laboratory: Denis Boire)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Louis-Philippe Guérin (laboratory: Stéphanie Proulx)
Doctorate in medicine, Laval University

Rémi Laflamme (laboratory: Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha)
Bachelor’s degree in microbiology and molecular immunology, University of Montreal

Andréanne Lévesque (laboratory: Sylvain Guérin)
Doctorate in Optometry, University of Montreal

Aubert Roy (laboratory: Jean-François Bouchard)
Doctorate in Medicine, University of Montreal

Michel Toutoungy (laboratory: Maurice Ptito)
Bachelor of Science, Major in Biology McGill University

Simon Trottier (laboratory: Isabelle Hardy)
Doctorate in Medicine, University of Montreal

Tenia (Clara) Wang (laboratory: Kathleen T. Mullen)
Bachelor of Science, McGill University

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

Liu LIU , Doctoral student, McGill University
Laboratory: Dr. Christopher Pack
Publication: : Liu LD, Pack CC. , The contribution of area MT to visual motion perception depends on training (2017) , Neuron 95, p436-446.

I began my training in neuroscience at the University of Toronto. I completed my undergraduate thesis with Dr. William D Hutchison studying the mechanism of deep brain stimulation, a treatment for movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. We found that deep brain stimulation can reduce pathological neurological activity and replace it with a regular pattern of activity (Liu et al., 2012 J Neurophysiol). We have further shown that this is important for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and patient outcomes (Prescott et al., 2014, Kronenbuerger et al., 2010).

To broaden my research horizon and gain experience working on animal models, I then began my PhD at McGill University. I did rotations in various laboratories and discovered my passion for vision research in the lab of Dr. Christopher Pack. I examined neural coding and the neural circuit underlying visual behaviors in primates (Liu et al., 2016 eLife, Liu et al., J Neurosci in press, Cui et al., 2013, 2016 J Neurosci). Recently, Dr. Pack and I have discovered that the circuits underlying visual behaviors can be quite plastic and depend on the training of animals (Liu & Pack 2017 Neuron)

I recently began my postdoctoral fellowship at the Janelia Research Campus of Howard Hughes Medical Institute in collaboration with Drs Karel Svoboda and Nuo Li. The collaborative environment at Janelia gives me complete freedom to pursue interesting questions in neuroscience in my next stage of training.

Ian O. MASSÉ , Doctoral student, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières
Laboratory: Dr Denis Boire
Publication: Massé, IO, Ross, S, Bronchti, G, and Boire, D. , Asymmetric Direct Reciprocal Connections Between Primary Visual and Somatosensory Cortices of the Mouse , Cerebral Cortex, September 1, 2017, 27:9, p4361–4378.

I completed my PhD in psychology, research profile, at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, in the functional neuroanatomy laboratory, under the supervision of Drs. Gilles Bronchti and Denis Boire. This university was an excellent choice for graduate studies in neuroscience since several research units are dynamically engaged in this field, and researchers actively collaborate by sharing their equipment and expertise, which allowed me to better appreciate the different aspects of a neuroscience study. The involvement of the various research directors of these laboratories allowed me to attend several activities proposed with the aim of supervising graduate students in their projects, such as conferences and seminars. The university itself also encouraged me to participate in national and international neuroscience conferences by offering me financial support. Dr. Boire also allowed me to become a member of the FRQS Vision Health Research Network. This allowed me to meet the main stakeholders in their field of study, to learn about the work of graduate students from other universities in Quebec and also to attend conferences by internationally renowned researchers. Since the beginning of my research career, my communication skills have been rewarded by the RRSV with the award of scientific poster presentation at the 2015 annual meeting and an oral presentation award at the Brain and Perception Axis Day 2012.

I therefore did my thesis on “Connections of primary sensory cortexes for contextual and multisensory information processing” in the laboratory of Drs. Bronchti and Boire. The issues addressed therein, namely neuronal plasticity and brain connectivity, corresponded to my research interests. This thesis allowed me to contribute in an original way to knowledge on microcircuitry, neuroanatomy, vision, connectivity between primary sensory cortexes, multisensory interactions, sensory perception, and blindness, in addition to allowing me to publish an article in the prestigious journal Cerebral Cortex. In this thesis, I used the mouse as an animal research model in order to use invasive techniques and assess the anatomical substrates of brain connections at the cellular level. This allowed me to master the use of rodents for experimental purposes.

Corinne ZINFLOU , Doctoral student, Laval University
Laboratory: Drs Lucie Germain and Sylvain Guérin
Publication: Zinflou C, Rochette PJ. Ultraviolet A-induced oxidation in cornea: Characterization of the early oxidation- related events , Free Radic Biol Med. July 2017, 108, p118-128.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in biology from Université Laval, during which I completed a research internship under the supervision of Prof. Sylvain Guérin (PhD), at the CHU de Québec Research Center. This internship focused on the study of the molecular mechanisms modulating the gene expression of integrin α5, during the corneal healing process. At the end of my bachelor’s degree, my interest in topics linking health to the toxic potential of the environment led me to complete a master’s degree in experimental medicine (specializing in environmental toxicology), under the supervision of Prof. Pierre Ayotte (PhD), in the biomarker laboratory of the Centre de Toxicology de Québec (Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec). My project aimed to develop a method for using DNA repair capacity as a biomarker of susceptibility to chronic exposure to arsenic, a ubiquitous environmental pollutant.

I am currently pursuing my doctorate in the laboratory of Prof. Patrick Rochette (PhD), at the research center of CHU de Québec-Université Laval, in the Regenerative Medicine Axis. My project focuses on radiation toxicity luminous in the eye. It is divided into two main parts: the consequences of oxidation caused by the rays Ultraviolet-A at the cornea and the impact of blue light on the integrity of the retinal pigmented epithelium. The article that is the subject of this request is the result of the work carried out within the framework of the first part. My studies doctoral studies have allowed me to acquire a wide range of technical expertise as well as a good knowledge of molecular mechanisms related to oxidation. I had the chance to present my work at several symposia and received an award of excellence in the oral presentation category at the RRSV annual meeting in 2016. A scholarship I was awarded a travel grant from the American Society for Photobiology in 2016 to present my results at the congress. held biannually in Tampa Bay. In parallel with my project, I participated in a study aimed at estimating the aging of eye tissues using telomeric shortening analysis, which led to a publication in the journal IOVS for which I am co-first author.

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

Summer session

Kevin Bastien (laboratory: Dave Saint-Amour)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal

Lysa Bergeron (laboratory: Denis Boire)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Maxime Bleau (laboratory: Aarlenne Khan)
Bachelor of Neuroscience, University of Montreal

Mathieu Carrière (laboratory: Andrew Toren)
Doctorate of Medicine, Laval University

Rami Darwich (laboratory: Isabelle Brunette)
Doctor of Medicine, McGill University

Mohammed El Yamani El Mehdi (laboratory: Marie-Carole Boucher)
Doctorate of Medicine, University of Montreal

Caroline Grand-Maître (laboratory: Franco Lepore)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Montreal

Jacqueline Higgins (laboratory: Elvire Vaucher)
Bachelor of Neuroscience, Memorial University

Marie-Charlotte Higgins (laboratory: Karim Jerbi)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Montreal

Shangge Jiang (laboratory: Baker Curtis)
Bachelor of Neuroscience, McGill University

Corina Lacombe (lab: Aaron Johnson)
Bachelor of Psychology, Concordia University

Florence Masse (laboratory: Élodie Boisselier)
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Laval University

Shiv Mittal (laboratory: Christos Boutopoulos)
Bachelor of Integrated Engineering, University of British Columbia

Kim Hai Nguyen (laboratory: Martin Arguin)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Montreal

Hamza Ouazani Chahdi (laboratory: May Griffith)
Doctorate of Medicine, University of Montreal

Elizabeth Prairie (laboratory: Sylvain Chemtob)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Evelyne Turrin (laboratory: Jean-Sébastien Joyal)
Bachelor of Pharmacology, McGill University

Fall session

Ali Salimi (laboratory: Michel Kapusta)
Doctor of Medicine, McGill University

Winter session

Clara Eid (laboratory: Maurice Ptito)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montreal

Philippe Germain (laboratory: Jean-François Bouchard)
Bachelor of Neuroscience, University of Montreal

Samuel Pinsonneault (laboratory: Pierre Hardy)
Bachelor of Pharmacology, University of Sherbrooke

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

Elisabeth ANDRIESSEN , Doctoral student, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr Mike Sapieha
Publication: Andriessen, EM, Wilson, AM, Mawambo, G., Dejda, A., Miloudi, K., Sennlaub, F. and Sapieha, P. (2016) , Gut microbiota influences pathological angiogenesis in obesity-driven choroidal neovascularization , EMBO Mol Med, December 1st 2016.

My doctoral training takes place in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Montreal. Dr. Sapieha’s laboratory in the research center of the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, where my research is carried out, reflects the ideal setting that promotes the development of scientific research and professional development. HMR has been selected to be the main site for vision research at the University of Montreal.

I have been part of Dr. Sapieha’s team since the summer of 2013 during a first research internship, followed by a master’s degree. My goal was to do a doctorate and having a very promising project in hand, I applied and was accepted to do a direct transition from master’s to doctorate in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Montreal, which began in January 2016.

From this training experience, I intend to gain much more autonomy and perseverance in my research. scientists, a good reference in terms of mentoring and great technical skills. Furthermore, I am a graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine from the University of Amsterdam. Following this doctorate, I intend to complete my medicine to be able to become a clinical researcher. The Maisonneuve- Rosemont is an environment where I will be in contact with several high-calibre clinical researchers who will be able to act in as a mentor to help me in my aspirations. All these factors will make me, one day I hope, a researcher independent company that will be able to join forces with its peers in the search for better therapeutic treatments for degenerative eye diseases.

Marius CHIASSEU , Doctoral student, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr. Adriana DiPolo
Publication: Chiasseu M, Cueva Vargas JL, Destroismaisons L, Vande Velde C, Leclerc N, Di Polo A. Tau Accumulation, Altered Phosphorylation, and Missorting Promote Neurodegeneration in Glaucoma , J Neurosci. 2016 May 25.

I am a new doctoral student in cellular and molecular biology at Université Laval. My research work is carried out at the Centre Universitaire d’Ophtalmologie (CUO-recherche) of the CHU de Québec. I previously completed a master’s degree in the same program in order to acquire skills in basic research. During my studies, I had the opportunity to work as an intern in several research centers in Quebec City. In addition to an internship at the CUO-Recherche, I worked in laboratories specialized in asthma, as well as in male infertility. However, my passion for ophthalmology as well as my facility in tissue engineering have led me convinced to pursue a master’s degree in this field.

After completing my master’s degree, I came to Canada to pursue doctoral studies in neuroscience at the university of Montreal, under the supervision of Professor Di Polo. My home laboratory is affiliated with the Research Center of the center hospitalier of the University of Montreal, and I work there on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the disease Alzheimer’s and glaucoma. In 2014, I was awarded a travel grant from ARVO for their annual conference in Denver- USA to present the results of my work on the role of tau protein in glaucoma. I also won 2nd prize in the 2015 edition of the national competition My thesis in 180 seconds, and I represented Quebec at the international final held at the Sorbonne in Paris. At the 22nd annual meeting of the RRSV I received the prize for the best oral presentation for a graduating doctoral student.

Camille COUTURE , Doctoral student, Laval University
Laboratory: Drs Lucie Germain and Sylvain Guérin
Publication: Couture C, Zaniolo K, Carrier P, Lake J, Patenaude J, Germain, L, Guérin SL. The tissue-engineered human cornea as a model to study expression of matrix metalloproteinases during corneal wound healing , Biomaterials, 2016 Feb.

I am a new doctoral student in cellular and molecular biology at Université Laval. My research work is carried out at the Centre Universitaire d’Ophtalmologie (CUO-recherche) of the CHU de Québec. I previously completed a master’s degree in the same program in order to acquire skills in basic research. During my studies, I had the opportunity to work as an intern in several research centers in Quebec City. In addition to an internship at the CUO-Recherche, I worked in laboratories specialized in asthma, as well as in male infertility. However, my passion for ophthalmology as well as my facility in tissue engineering have led me convinced to pursue a master’s degree in this field.

My work at CUO-research consists of studying the cellular and molecular processes that occur during corneal injuries. As a model, I use tissue-engineered corneas that are reconstructed using a protocol developed by LOEX. Tissue-engineered human corneas are useful for studying the cornea in various aspects before using post-mortem corneas or animal models.

During my studies, I was fortunate to obtain several scholarships from the Health Research Network of the vision of the FRQS (Research Internship Grant and Performance Grant). I also received a FRQS Master’s Scholarship for my second year of Master’s. In May 2015 and 2016, I participated in the ARVO annual meetings held in Denver and Seattle respectively. In 2015, I was fortunate to obtain a scholarship travel granted by the congress.

This article is my first as first author. It is the result of all the work I have done during my internships as well as during my master’s degree. It concerns the study of the activity of matrix metalloproteinases during wound healing and demonstrates their contribution to the remodeling of the extracellular matrix to facilitate wound closure.

Sujaya Neupane , Doctoral student, McGill University
Laboratory: Dr. Christopher Pack
Publication: Article: Neupane S, Guitton D, Pack CC (2016). Two distinct types of remapping in primate cortical area V4 , Nature Communications.

I am an electrical engineer by training. After completing my Bachelor of Engineering, I completed a Master of Biomedical Engineering during which I studied the neural mechanisms of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). To do this, I teamed up with another student and we implanted a multiple electrode array in the visual cortex of cats to record neurophysiological signals during TMS. Over the course of 2 years, I performed a dozen experiments. This gave me experience in various aspects of experimental work, especially in surgery and analysis of neurophysiological data obtained by large-scale recording. I also worked on 2 projects in collaboration with postdoctoral fellows from the lab, which allowed me to publish 2 papers in peer-reviewed journals as a co-author.

After my master’s degree, I started a PhD in neuroscience where I work with devices of multiple recordings permanently implanted in the cortex of monkeys. I have trained the animals to perform visually guided tasks during which I record using the implanted electrodes. My findings have allowed me to publish 2 peer-reviewed journal articles as first author. My third article is currently under review.

Before my studies in neuroscience, I worked for an engineering company located in Ottawa when I was at Bachelor’s degree. I worked in the design and testing of single-board computers. This experience is useful today when of my neurophysiological recordings because data acquisition and management require having knowledge of computer science.

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

Summer session

Palig Balian (laboratory: Dr. Pia Wintermark)
Bachelor of Neuroscience, McGill University

Laura Barriault (laboratory: Dr Sylvain Chemtob)
Doctorate in Medicine, University of Montreal

Pascale Desjardins (laboratory: Dr Sylvain Guérin)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Université Laval

Frédérik Fournier (laboratory: Dr Przemyslaw Sapieha)
Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, University of Montreal

Gisèle Hounye (laboratory: Dr Santiago Costantino)
Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal

William Trung Le (laboratory: Dr. Aarlenne Khan)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montreal

François Papineau (laboratory: Dr Jean-François Bouchard)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Université Laval

Valérie Robichaud (laboratory: Dr Bruno Larrivee)
Bachelor’s degree in microbiology and immunology, University of Montreal

Mélodie Roy (laboratory: Dr Martin Arguin)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Montreal

Milanka Stevanovic (laboratory: Dr Michel Cayouette)
Bachelor’s degree in cell biology, specialization in Anatomy and cell biology

Antoine Sylvestre-Bouchard (laboratory: Dr Pierre Hardy)
Doctorate in Medicine, University of Montreal

Evelyne Turrin (laboratory: Dr Jean-Sébastien Joyal)
Bachelor of Pharmacology, McGill University

Marie-Pier Veilleux (laboratory: Dr. Solange Landreville)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Sergiu Vlad (laboratory: Dr Dan Bergeron)
Doctorate in Medicine, University of Sherbrooke

Fall session

Hayley Lippiatt (laboratory: Dr Uri Saragovi)
Bachelor of Pharmacy, McGill University

Winter session

Robert Tremblay-Laliberté (laboratory: Dr. Boire)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

Hosni CHERIF , Doctoral student, School of Optometry, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr Jean François Bouchard
Publication: Hosni Cherif, Anteneh Argaw, Bruno Cécyre, Alex Bouchard, Jonathan Gagnon, Pasha Javadi (2015) , Role of GPR55 during Axon Growth and Target Innervation , eNeuro. 2015 Sep-Oct; 2(5): ENEURO.0011-15.2015.
NB Hosni Chérif holds a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Quebec in Montreal.

He was introduced to the field of vision research during an end-of-studies internship in the laboratory of Dr. Jean-François Bouchard. It was there that he continued his graduate studies in the PhD program in Vision Sciences at the School of Optometry, Université de Montréal. He is now a final year PhD student (direct transfer to PhD in 2013) and is studying, for the first time, the involvement of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the growth and guidance of retinal ganglion cell axons during the formation of visual circuits during development.

Hosni received a recruitment grant from the Vision Health Research Network (VHRN), a joint grant doctoral degree from the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the School of Optometry (FESP-EOUM) as well as five excellence scholarships from the Vision Science Program. He has presented his project on numerous occasions in several national and international scientific conferences and the excellence of his work has been confirmed by the award of two prizes by the RRSV for the best poster presentation in 2011 and 2012.

Mathieu GAUVIN , Doctoral student, McGill University
Laboratory: Pierre Lachapelle and Jean-Marc Lina
Publication: Mathieu Gauvin; John M. Little; Jean-Marc Lina; Pierre Lachapelle , Functional decomposition of the human ERG based on the discrete wavelet transform , Journal of Vision December 2015, Vol.15, 14.

Mathieu Gauvin obtained his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, specializing in the biomedical field. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree at the École de technologie supérieure, he was already actively involved in several biomedical research projects: for the Centre for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognition (CERNEC) working on MRI and EEG image registration; for the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) working on the mathematical localization of epileptic spikes; and for the MUHC Research Institute working on innovative mathematical strategies to study the electroretinogram (ERG) under the supervision of Dr. Pierre Lachapelle and Dr. Jean-Marc Lina.

The last project crystallized his desire to continue his research at the graduate level in the integrated program in neuroscience at McGill University, where he received a Vision Network recruitment grant. He is now a doctoral student (direct progression to doctorate in 2013) in Dr. Lachapelle’s laboratory and he is co-supervised by Dr. Jean-Marc Lina. His project applies cutting-edge mathematical tools for signal analysis ERG and answers an important question: can advanced analytical approaches reveal information? Additional useful features in ERG recordings? Mathieu’s thesis project suggests that time-frequency analyses could significantly improve the usefulness of ERG in basic and advanced research. clinical studies by providing more useful and reproducible descriptors.

Mathieu is currently funded by a doctoral research scholarship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) and has received two excellence scholarships from the Integrated Program in Neuroscience. His work has been presented at numerous scientific conferences and international symposia where he has received several awards, including the prestigious Eberhard Dodt Award given by the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV).

Pierre MATTAR , Postdoctoral fellow, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr Michel Cayouette
Publication: Pierre Mattar, Johan Ericson, Seth Blackshaw, Michel Cayouette , A Conserved Regulatory Logic Controls Temporal Identity in Mouse Neural Progenitors , Neuron 85, 497–504, February 4, 2015.

Pierre Mattar has worked in molecular biology for 15 years. He first completed an “honors” bachelor’s degree in genetics, followed by a master’s degree in Microbiology and Immunology at Western University in London, Ontario. His supervisor was Dr. Gregory A. Dekaban. He then went to the University of Calgary for his doctoral studies, where he joined the laboratory of Dr. Carol Schuurmans. There, he studied brain development, and the cerebral cortex in particular. In 2008, he met Michel Cayouette at a scientific meeting. Very interested in Dr. Cayouette’s work on the transcription factor Ikaros (Ikzf1) and its role in retinal development, Pierre joined the laboratory in 2010 to continue this project.

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

Summer session

Etienne Bénard-Séguin (laboratory: Dr Brunette)
Doctor of Medicine, Queen’s University

Emilie Bergeron (laboratory: Dr Bergeron and Dr Landreville)
Doctorate in medicine, Laval University

Laurent Elkrief (laboratory: Dr Ptito)
Bachelor of Neuroscience, McGill University

Simon Faghel-Soubeyrand (laboratory: Dr Gosselin)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Montreal

Isabelle Godbout (laboratory: Dr Vaucher)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montreal

Marie-Camille Guimond (laboratory: Dr Guérin)
Bachelor of Biology, Laval University

Marilyn Jacob (lab: Dr Khan)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montreal

Noëmie Jean-LeBlanc (laboratory: Dr Proulx)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Université Laval

Jackie Lam (lab: Dr Shmue)
Bachelor of Science, McGill University

Rosalie Martel (laboratory: Dr Casanova)
Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal

Sébastien Méthot (laboratory: Dr Rochette)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Université Laval

Bianca Olivieri (laboratory: Dr Wintermark)
Bachelor of Science, McGill University

Ariane Quintal (laboratory: Dr Bouchard)
Bachelor of Neuroscience, University of Montreal

Colm Quirke (laboratory: Dr Landreville)
Bachelor of Science, University of British Columbia

Sarah Roy (laboratory: Dr Salesse)
Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Laval University

Robert Tremblay-Laliberté (laboratory: Dr. Boire)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Louis Vaillancourt (laboratory: Dr Harissi-Dagher)
Doctorate in Medicine, University of Montreal

Sarah Zakaib-Rassi (laboratory: Dr Saint-Amour)
Doctorate in psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

Gaëlle MAWAMBO , Doctoral student, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr. Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha
Publication: Dejda A, Mawambo G, Cerani A, Miloudi K, Shao Z, Daudelin JF, Boulet S, Oubaha M, Beaudoin F, Akla N, Henriques S, Menard C, Stahl A, Delisle JS, Rezende FA, Labrecque N, Sapieha P. (2014) , Neuropilin-1 mediates myeloid cell chemoattraction and influences retinal neuroimmune crosstalk , J Clin Invest. 2014 Nov;124(11):4807-22.

Born in Douala, Cameroon, I immigrated to Canada in 2008 where I completed my undergraduate studies in biochemistry at the University of Montreal. During these studies, I completed two research internships in the laboratory of Dr. Christian Baron where I studied the biomolecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of selenocysteine. After obtaining my Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry, I joined the research team of Dr. Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha to pursue my graduate studies in biochemistry.

I have contributed significantly to the publication of two seminal projects from the laboratory of Dr. Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha. The first study (Binet F, Mawambo G, et al. Cell Metabolism 17, 353–371, 2013) demonstrated the ability of the axon guidance molecule, netrin-1, to induce the secretion of the pro-angiogenic factor VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) by brain macrophages or microglia, thus leading to reparative revascularization of the ischemic retina in the context of proliferative retinopathy, the main cause of blindness in industrialized countries. Still in the same pathology, we recently published, in a second study (Dejda A & Mawambo G, et al. The journal of Clinical Investigation, 2014), the impact of the Neuropillin-1 receptor (Nrp1). In this study where I am co-first author, we demonstrate the involvement of Nrp1 in the chemotaxis of a population of mononuclear phagocytes and their accumulation in retinal neovascular diseases, which contributes to the progression of the pathology.

I made a direct transition from master’s to doctorate in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Montreal, and I am currently studying the role of Nrp1 in innate immunity using the mouse model of infection by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes .

Mathieu GAUVIN , Doctoral student, McGill University
Laboratory: Pierre Lachapelle and Jean-Marc Lina
Publication: Gauvin M, Jean-Marc Lina and Pierre Lachapelle (2014) , Advance in ERG analysis: from peak time and amplitude to frequency, power and energy , Biomed Res Int. 2014;2014:246096. Status: Published; Online.

Mathieu Gauvin obtained his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, specializing in the biomedical field. While pursuing his bachelor’s degree at the École de technologie supérieure, he was already actively involved in several biomedical research projects: for the Centre for Research in Neuropsychology and Cognition (CERNEC) working on MRI and EEG image registration; for the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) working on the mathematical localization of epileptic spikes; and for the MUHC Research Institute working on innovative mathematical strategies to study the electroretinogram (ERG) under the supervision of Dr. Pierre Lachapelle and Dr. Jean-Marc Lina.

The last project crystallized his desire to continue his research at the graduate level in the integrated program in neuroscience at McGill University, where he received a Vision Network recruitment grant. He is now a doctoral student (direct progression to doctorate in 2013) in Dr. Lachapelle’s laboratory and he is co-supervised by Dr. Jean-Marc Lina. His project applies cutting-edge mathematical tools for signal analysis ERG and answers an important question: can advanced analytical approaches reveal Additional useful information in ERG recordings? Mathieu’s thesis project suggests that Time-frequency analyses could significantly improve the usefulness of ERG in basic and advanced research. clinical studies by providing more useful and reproducible descriptors.

Mathieu is currently funded by a doctoral research scholarship from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) and has received two excellence scholarships from the Integrated Program in Neuroscience. His work has been presented at numerous scientific conferences and international symposia where he has received several awards, including the prestigious Eberhard Dodt Award given by the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV).

Finally, Mathieu has been passionate about science since childhood and his dream is to be a university professor. He specifically wants to be engaged in research projects that promote the creation of new knowledge, methods and products and to manage these projects as a principal investigator.

Zhou JIAWEI , Post-doctoral fellow, McGill University
Laboratory: Dr. Robert F. Hess
Publication: Jiawei Zhou, Alexandre Reynaud, Robert F. Hess (2014) , Real-time modulation of perceptual eye dominance in humans , Proc Biol Sci. 2014 Nov 22;281.

Dr. Jiawei Zhou, born in December 1985 in Huaibei, Anhui, China, is currently a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Ophthalmology at McGill University. He completed his studies at the University of Science and Technology of China and received a BSc degree in Biology in July 2006 and a PhD in Biophysics in July 2011 under the supervision of Dr. Yifeng Zhou. In September 2011, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Robert Hess at the McGill Visual Research Unit as a postdoctoral fellow. He is currently funded by an RI-MUHC research fellowship to study the role of short-term manipulation of visual input in modulating adult visual plasticity.

His main research interests include amblyopia visual impairment, binocular vision and visual plasticity. He has published 18 research articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals including Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, Scientific Reports, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Journal of Vision and Plos One. He has also served as a scientific referee for several journals including Journal of Modern Optics, Perception, Clinical Ophthalmology and Psychology & Neuroscience.

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

Summer session

Ahmad Damlaj (laboratory: Dr Curtis Baker)
Bachelor of Science in Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University

Arianne Lechasseur (laboratory: Dr Patrick Rochette)
Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, Université Laval

Benjamin Gaudet-Fex (laboratory: Dr. Marie Dumont)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Montreal

Christine Yao (laboratory: Dr. Solange Landreville)
Bachelor of Biology, University of British Columbia

Cynthia Trochedau-Marchand (laboratory: Dr Marc Hébert)
Bachelor of Pharmacology, Sherbrooke University

Elisabeth Andriessen (laboratory: Dr Mike Sapieha)
Bachelor of Medicine, University of Amsterdam

Francis Desilets (laboratory: Dr Jean-François Bouchard)
Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular medicine, University of Montreal

Hyba Bessaklia (laboratory: Dr Pierre Lachapelle)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montreal

Isabelle Bouchard (laboratory: Dr Christian Casanova)
Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering, École Polytechnique de Montréal

Jessica Wilson (laboratory: Dr. Aaron Johnson)
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Specialization in Psychology, Concordia University

Morgane Defalque (laboratory: Dr. Olga Overbury)
Bachelor of Arts, specialization in Psychology, McGill University

Sijia Zheng (laboratory: Dr Sylvain Chemtob)
Doctorate in Medicine, University of Montreal

Simon Faghel-Soubeyrand (laboratory: Dr Dave Saint-Amour)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Montreal

Sohen Blanchet (laboratory: Dr Denis Boire)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Stanley Dao (laboratory: Dr. Mona Harissi-Dagher)
Doctor of Medicine, McGill University

Fall session

Safari Joseph Balegamire (laboratory: Dr. Ellen Freeman)
Public health intern, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital

Alexandra Beaudry-Richard (laboratory: Dr Maurice Ptito)
Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, University of Montreal

Annie Haillot (laboratory: Dr. Stéphanie Proulx)
Doctorate of Medicine

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

Bruno CÉCYRE , Doctoral student, vision sciences, School of Optometry
Laboratory: Dr Christian Casanova and Dr Jean-François Bouchard
Publication: Cécyre B, Zabouri N, Huppé-Gourgues F, Bouchard JF, Casanova C. , Roles of cannabinoid receptors type 1 and 2 on the retinal function of adult mice , Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013 Dec 11;54(13):8079-90. doi:10.1167/iovs.13-12514. PubMed PMID: 24255040.

Bruno Cécyre holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacology from the Université de Sherbrooke and is currently completing his master’s studies in vision sciences at the Université de Montréal. He will begin a PhD in vision sciences in January 2013 in the laboratories of Drs. Jean-François Bouchard and Christian Casanova. He is interested in the endocannabinoid system and its involvement in the visual system. Before beginning his master’s degree, he completed two research internships in Dr. Bouchard’s laboratory, during which he discovered a passion for studying the endocannabinoid system and vision. In his master’s thesis, he discussed the expression and function of the endocannabinoid system in the rodent retina. The main goal of his doctoral thesis will be to evaluate the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids in certain visual diseases.

Agustin CERANI , Master’s student, biochemistry and molecular medicine, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Dr. Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha
Publication: Cerani A, Tetreault N, Menard C, Lapalme E, Patel C, Sitaras N, Beaudoin F, Leboeuf D, De Guire V, Binet F, Dejda A, Rezende FA, Miloudi K, Sapieha P. , Neuron-derived semaphorin 3A is an early inducer of vascular permeability in diabetic retinopathy via neuropilin-1 , Cell Metab. 2013 Oct 1;18(4):505-18. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.09.003. PubMed PMID: 24093675.

I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and immigrated to Canada in 2004. In Vancouver, British Columbia, where I first lived, I pursued my undergraduate studies in biological sciences at Simon Fraser University (SFU). There I gained my first research experience under the supervision of Dr. Gordon Rintoul. During this time, I developed a strong interest in the field of neuroscience by studying mitochondrial dynamics in neurons and astrocytes in relation to stroke. I subsequently moved to the east of the country, to Montreal, in 2010, to join a new laboratory, that of Dr. Przemyslaw Sapieha at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (HMR) to pursue graduate studies in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at the University of Montreal. I thus began to study neurovascular interactions in the pathophysiology of diabetic retinopathy. By focusing on one of the most common complications of diabetes, I became increasingly interested in its epidemiological and clinical implications. This inevitably led me to apply my primary experience in basic research to the epidemiological research of diabetes and other chronic diseases.

Jennifer Lake , PhD student, molecular and cellular biology, Université Laval
Laboratory: Dr. Sylvain Guérin
Publication: Lake J, Zaniolo K, Gaudreault M, Carrier P, Deschambault A, Bazin R, Germain L, Salesse C, Guérin SL. , Expression of the α5 integrin gene in corneal epithelial cells cultured on tissue-engineered human extracellular matrices , Biomaterials. 2013 Sep;34(27):6367-76. doi: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2013.05.007. Epub 2013 May 30. PubMed PMID: 23727260.

I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a Certificate in Biotechnology from Université Laval. I have also contributed to research in several ways with my various internships and jobs associated with the fields of molecular and cellular biology and biotechnology. In 2001, I participated in the research work of Dr. Alan Anderson on the regulation of cytochrome P450 genes by phenobarbital during my Initiation to Research I-II in molecular biology. In 2002, I collaborated on the research work of Dr. Normand Marceau on the roles of keratins in the response of hepatocytes to stress. During an internship in 2003, I helped advance Dr. Jean Bérubé’s research project on the identification and classification of different species of Armillaria. In 2004, I completed a Master’s degree in Animal Sciences at Université Laval under the supervision of researcher Grant Vandenberg with the project “Towards a new approach to establish the nutritional needs (in particular those in P) of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using genetic chips”. In 2007, I enabled the advancement of Dr. Louis Bernatchez’s research projects during my employment as a research professional by performing qPCR analyses of the expression of 4 genes in white muscle and liver of whitefish and by making comparisons of gene expression profiles of white muscle of pure normal whitefish farmed populations with pure dwarfs and comparisons of dwarf backcross whitefish with normal backcrosses for the project of co-researcher Nicolas Derome. In 2008, I undertook a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology at Université Laval under the supervision of researcher Sylvain Guérin concerning a project on the influence of extracellular matrix components on the expression of the α5 subunit gene of α5β1 integrin of corneal epithelial cells in a context of corneal healing. I was the recipient of a Master’s Graduate Scholarship from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and a F. Banting and C. Best Canada Graduate Scholarship for a PhD from the Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR).

Joëlle Lavoie , PhD student, neurobiology, Université Laval
Laboratory: Dr. Marc Hébert
Publication: Lavoie J, Hébert M, Beaulieu JM. , Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Overexpression Replicates Electroretinogram Abnormalities of Offspring at High Genetic Risk for Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder , Biol Psychiatry. 2013 Oct 16. pii: S0006- 3223(13)00827-5. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2013.08.035. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 24138923.

Joëlle Lavoie holds a bachelor’s degree in medical biology from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. In 2008, she began a master’s degree in neurobiology at Université Laval under the supervision of Marc Hébert and Martin Beaulieu and, since 2009, she has been a doctoral student following an accelerated transition. She is interested in the use of the electroretinogram (ERG) as a biomarker of psychiatric illnesses and her research focuses on the study of the underlying mechanisms of ERG abnormalities observed in patients with psychiatric illnesses. To do this, she works both with patients and with animal models of psychiatric illnesses. Joëlle is the recipient of scholarships from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS), the Brain, Behaviour and Neuropsychiatry Research Centre (CRCN) and the Canadian Federation of University Women. She has had the opportunity to present her work at several scientific days and international conferences where she has won several awards and distinctions offered by, among others, the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) and the Vision Health Research Network (RRSV). In her latest work published in the prestigious journal Biological Psychiatry, she demonstrates an association between the amplitude of ERG waves and the expression of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), which is a risk factor for certain brain diseases, which could explain the origin of certain ERG abnormalities found in people with or at risk of psychiatric diseases. This confirms that the ERG is a good tool for investigating mental illnesses and could potentially serve as a biomarker for psychiatric diseases.

Renaud Manuguerra-Gagné , Doctoral student, biomedical sciences, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Drs Mark Lesk and Denis-Claude Roy
Publication: Manuguerra-Gagné R, Boulos PR, Ammar A, Leblond FA, Krosl G, Pichette V, Lesk MR, Roy DC. , Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells promotes tissue regeneration in a glaucoma model through laser-induced paracrine factor secretion and progenitor cell recruitment. , Stem Cells. 2013 Jun;31(6):1136-48. doi:10.1002/stem.1364. PubMed PMID: 23495088.

During my Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences, I developed a keen interest in research, particularly in cellular development. Understanding the mechanisms that allow a stem cell to generate progenitors that can perform an ever-increasing number of distinct tasks is for me a great source of fascination and interest. That is why I embarked on a PhD project that was born a collaboration between the laboratories of Dr. Mark Lesk, ophthalmologist specializing in glaucoma, and the laboratory of Dr. Denis-Claude Roy, specialist in hematology-oncology and bone marrow stem cells. My work, published in 2013 in the prestigious journal Stem Cells, demonstrated that bone marrow cells, called mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), are able to restore the function of damaged areas of the eye responsible for the development of glaucoma. This is a discovery of great importance because it demonstrates that it is possible to reactivate dormant regenerative capacities in an organ that does not normally grow back. These extremely encouraging results have allowed me to present at several national (Stem Cell Network Annual General Meeting in 2008 and 2010, ThéCell network annual general meeting in 2010, 2011 and 2013, Till and Mcculloch meeting in 2012, Vision Network Annual Meeting in 2013) and international (Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology and International Society for Stem Cell Research in 2009 and 2012) conferences, in addition to winning numerous presentation awards.

Hocine Sliman , PhD student, biomedical sciences, School of Optometry
Laboratory: Dr Maurice Ptito
Publication: Slimani H, Danti S, Ricciardi E, Pietrini P, Ptito M, Kupers R. , Hypersensitivity to pain in congenital blindness , Pain. 2013 Oct;154(10):1973-8. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2013.05.036. PubMed PMID: 24040972.

Following my bachelor’s degree in biomedical sciences, I began a master’s degree in vision sciences in 2010. Seeing my growing interest in research, I accelerated my PhD in 2011. I work under the supervision of Dr. Maurice Ptito, a researcher recognized worldwide for his work on brain plasticity and understanding the blind brain. His laboratory, the Harland Sanders Chair, is dedicated exclusively to research on the blind and has a reputation for providing quality training to its students. Dr. Ptito maintains a close collaboration with Dr. Ron Kupers of the Panum Institute at the University of Copenhagen and with Dr. Pietro Pietrini of the University of Pisa. I had the chance to accompany Dr. Ptito several times to Copenhagen and Pisa for research internships during which I started my doctoral project and acquired expertise in the use of sophisticated equipment that very few laboratories have at their disposal. During these internships, I had the opportunity to be supervised by experts in the fields of psychophysics and brain imaging. In addition, internships abroad represent unique opportunities to discover other ways of working, other research approaches and, to top it all off, to build close collaborations with laboratories that work in the same direction as ours. Thus, the projects advance more quickly, are much deeper and therefore have more impact on the scientific world. Other trips abroad are planned for the coming years in order to better understand this unexplored research topic that will have great implications on the understanding of blindness and the plastic phenomena it causes.

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

Summer session

Stephanie Côté (laboratory: Dr. Patrick Rochette)
Bachelor of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal

Camille Couture (laboratory: Dr. Lucie Germain)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Université Laval

Félix Beaudoin (laboratory: Dr Mike Sapieha)
Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular medicine, University of Montreal

Laurent Elkrief (laboratory: Dr Maurice Ptito)
Bachelor of Science (Neuroscience), McGill University

Véronique Beaulieu (laboratory: Dr Stéphanie Proulx)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Université Laval

Avital Cherniawsky (lab: Dr. Kathy Mullen)
Bachelor of Science (Psychology), University of Victoria

Laurent Capplette (laboratory: Dr Frédéric Gosselin)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Montreal

Gaëlle Simona (laboratory: Dr Sylvain Guérin)
Bachelor’s degree in biopharmaceutical chemistry, Université Laval

Arianne Lechasseur (laboratory: Dr. Solange Landreville)
Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry, Université Laval

Olivier Lefebvre (laboratory: Dr Christian Casanova)
Bachelor of Engineering (Biomedical Engineering), École Polytechnique de Montréal

Romain Rejasse (laboratory: Dr Elvire Vaucher)
Bachelor of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal

Gabriel Martine (laboratory: Dr Amir Shmuel)
Bachelor of Physics, McGill University

Karen Tong (laboratory: Dr Denis Boire)
Doctorate in Medicine, University of Montreal (Trois-Rivières Campus)

Anthony Flamier (laboratory: Dr Gilbert Bernier)
PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Connecticut, School of Pharmacy

Winter session

Jade Pomerleau (laboratory: Dr. Solange Landreville)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Université Laval

Mathieu Nadeau-Vallée (laboratory: Dr Sylvain Chemtob)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montreal

Sarah Chorfit (lab: Dr Mark Lesk)
Doctor of Medicine, McGill University

The Vision Network Award for the best publication for students

Joëlle LAVOIE , Doctoral student, neurobiology, Université Laval
Laboratory: Dr. Marc Hébert
Publication: Lavoie J, Illiano P, Sotnikova TD, Gainetdinov RR, Beaulieu JM, Hébert M. , The Electroretinogram as a Biomarker of Central Dopamine and Serotonin: Potential Relevance to Psychiatric Disorders , Biol Psychiatry 2013 Jan 7.

Joëlle Lavoie holds a bachelor’s degree in medical biology from the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. In 2008, she began a master’s degree in neurobiology at Université Laval under the supervision of Marc Hébert and Martin Beaulieu and, since 2009, she has been a doctoral student following an accelerated transition. She is interested in the use of the electroretinogram (ERG) as a biomarker of psychiatric illnesses. Her research focuses on the study of underlying mechanisms of ERG abnormalities observed in patients with psychiatric illnesses. To do this, she works both with patients and with animal models of psychiatric illnesses. Joëlle is the recipient of scholarships from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS) and the Centre for Research on Brain, Behavior and Neuropsychiatry (CRCN). She has had the opportunity to present her work at several scientific days and international conferences where she has won several awards and distinctions offered, among others, by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), the International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) and the Vision Health Research Network (VHRN). In his published work In the prestigious journal Biological Psychiatry, she demonstrates that alterations in neurotransmission Central dopaminergic and serotonergic receptors can influence ERG parameters. That said, ERG can be used tool to learn more about psychiatric illnesses since it can reflect the central abnormalities found in these illnesses.

Kanawarpal SINGH , PhD student, physics, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Drs Mark Lesk and Santiago Costantino
Publication: Singh K, Dion C, Godin AG, Lorghaba F, Descovich D, Wajszilber M, Ozaki T, Costantino S, Lesk MR. , Pulsatile movement of the optic nerve head and the peripapillary retina in normal subjects and in glaucoma , Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2012 Nov 27;53(12):7819-24.

Kanawarpal Singh holds a Master’s degree in Laser Science and Applications from Devi Ahilya University, Indore (India). During his Master’s degree, he became familiar with the world of lasers and their use in biological sciences. He worked as an exchange student in the Department of Ophthalmology at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital for one year as part of his Master’s degree. The fascinating world of vision motivated him to pursue his PhD program in this field. In order to continue his work, he received PhD scholarships from the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et Technologies (FRQNT, 2008-2009) and the Fonds de recherche du Québec – Santé (FRQS, 2009-2012). He received the prestigious Innovation Challenge Prize in 2012 from the Natural Sciences Research Council and Engineering Canada (NSERC) for his contribution to the development of a device for the early diagnosis of glaucoma. He also received an Incubic/Milton-Chang travel grant to present his work at the Conference on Laser and Electro-Optics. He won a travel grant from the Ministère de l’éducation, du loisir and sports in 2009 to visit the Medical University of Vienna in Austria to carry out experiments related to his work.

Joseph BOUSKILA , Doctoral student, biomedical sciences, University of Montreal
Laboratory: Drs Maurice Ptito and Jean-François Bouchard
Publication: Bouskila J, Burke MW, Zabouri N, Casanova C, Ptito M, Bouchard JF. , xpression and localization of the cannabinoid receptor type 1 and the enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase in the retina of vervet monkeys , Neuroscience. 2012 Jan 27;202:117-30.

Joseph Bouskila holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences and a Master of Vision Sciences from the Université de Montréal. He is currently a PhD student in Biomedical Sciences in the laboratories of Drs. Maurice Ptito and Jean-François Bouchard. He is interested in the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in vision in monkeys. Before starting his Master’s degree, he completed a research internship in the laboratory of Dr. Christophe Faure. This is where he learned different immunolabeling techniques. Armed with good tools, he worked during his Master’s degree on the detection of key proteins that are part of the endocannabinoid system in the monkey retina. Thus, he discussed in his 2012 thesis the expression and localization of the endocannabinoid system in the monkey retina. The main goal of his doctoral thesis is to characterize the cannabinoid signaling system in the central nervous system (CNS) with emphasis on all visual structures, including the retina, lateral geniculate gyrus, and primary visual cortex. Cannabis is an important drug of abuse and has played a role in human history for thousands of years. The CB1 receptor, the main receptor of the cannabinoid system, is ubiquitous in the CNS and represents one of the most highly expressed G protein-coupled receptors in the brain. It is involved in several brain functions such as learning, memory, and motor coordination. However, its involvement in vision and visual system development remains unknown.

Recruitment Scholarship Recipients

Summer session

Camille Couture (laboratory: Dr. Lucie Germain)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Université Laval

Caroline Arsenault (laboratory: Dr. Solange Landreville)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, Université Laval

Diana Arias (laboratory: Dr Dave Saint-Amour)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Quebec in Montreal

Fatma Zaguia (laboratory: Dr. Isabelle Brunette)
Doctor of Medicine, McGill University

Félix Beaudoin (laboratory: Dr Mike Sapieha)
Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular medicine, University of Montreal

Jonathan Gagnon (laboratory: Dr. Jean-François Bouchard)
Bachelor of Pharmacology, Sherbrooke University

Jonathan Partouche (laboratory: Dr Maurice Ptito)
Doctorate in Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Claude Bernard Lyon1 University

Karen Tong (laboratory: Dr Denis Boire)
Doctorate in Medicine, University of Montreal (Trois-Rivières Campus)

Marie Guimond (laboratory: Stéphanie Proulx)
Doctorate in medicine, Laval University

Olivier Roy (laboratory: Dr Sylvain Chemtob)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montreal

Raefat El-Jammal (laboratory: Dr Stéphane Molotchnikoff)
Bachelor of Biological Sciences, University of Montreal

Valérie Thibault (laboratory: Dr Patrick Rochette)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, Université Laval

Victor Dubus (laboratory: Dr Leonard Levin)
Bachelor of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, University of Montreal

Wyston Chadwick Pierre (laboratory: Dr Pierre Lachapelle)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, University of Montreal

Winter session

Sohen Blanchet (laboratory: Dr Denis Boire)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Edith Léveillé (laboratory: Dr Dave Saint-Amour)
Bachelor’s degree in psychology, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières

Tamara Boutin (laboratory: Dr Elvire Vaucher)
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences, University of Montreal

Alex Bouchard (laboratory: Dr Jean-François Bouchard)
Bachelor’s degree in medical biology, University of Quebec in Trois-Rivières