Our team

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The VSRN management team (Executive Committee or CD) is composed of the network director, the heads of research axes (established members) and their co-director (early career members), as well as two student representatives elected by the general assembly of members.

Direction’s Members

NETWORK DIRECTOR

Michel Cayouette, PhD
Full Research Professor at the Institute
Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM)
and Professor-Researcher of the Department of Medicine at the University of Montreal; Director of the Cellular Neurobiology Research Unit at the IRCM
Web page

CO-DIRECTOR – STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Sylvain Chemtob, MD, FRCPC, FAAP, PhD
Full Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics, Ophthalmology and Pharmacology at the University of Montreal; Affiliate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at McGill University; Pediatrician and researcher at the CHU de Sainte-Justine, Montreal; Researcher at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, Montreal
Web page

Jacqueline Orquin, MD, FRCSC
Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Montreal
Web page

CO-DIRECTOR – CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH

Isabelle Brunette, MD, FRCSC
Full Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal; Ophthalmologist, corneologist and researcher
at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, University of Montreal
Web page

THE NETWORK AXIS

BIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY OF VISION

DIRECTION

Adriana Di Polo, PhD
Full Professor in the Department of Neuroscience of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Montreal
Accredited Professor at the School of Optometry, University of Montreal
Researcher at the Hospital Complex Research Center of the University of Montreal (CRCHUM), Viger Tower
Web page

CO-DIRECTION

Arjun Krishnaswamy, PhD
Assistant Professor in the Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal
Web page

VISION NEUROSCIENCES

DIRECTION

Stuart Trenholm, PhD
Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montreal
Web page

CO-DIRECTION

Matthieu Vanni, PhD
Associate Professor, École d’optométrie -University of Montreal; Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine – Department of Neuroscience
Web page

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

DIRECTION

Elodie Boisselier, PhD
Researcher at the CHU de Québec Research Center; Associate Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and ENT-Head and Neck Surgery at the Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec
Web page

CO-DIRECTION

Cristina Bostan, MD, MSc, FRCSC, DABO
Clinical Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine – Department of Ophthalmology, University of Montreal; Ophthalmologist – Cornea, external diseases, anterior segment and refractive surgery, Centre universitaire d’ophtalmologie de l’Université de Montréal, CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Ile-de-Montréal
Associate clinician, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre
Web page

VISION, ACCESS, AND PARTICIPATION (FORMERLY REHABILITATION AND SOCIAL ISSUES OF VISUAL DISORDERS)

DIRECTION

Walter Wittich, PhD, FAAO, CVTL
Associate Professor at the École d’optométrie, University of Montreal
Researcher in Residence at the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in rehabilitation of metropolitan Montreal (CRIR) MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Center of the CIUSSS of West-Central Montreal; Researcher in residence at the CRIR-Institut Nazareth et Louis-Braille (INLB) of the CISSS de la Montérégie-Centre
Associate Professor at the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University
Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, Concordia University
Web page

CO-DIRECTION

Natalina Martiniello, PhD, CVRT
Assistant Professor in Vision Rehabilitation at the School of Optometry, Université de Montréal; ACVREP Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist; University Representative, AER Vision Rehabilitation Therapy Division
Web page

VSRN Coordination

Valérie Lavastre, PhD
Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM)
Email 1: reseau.vision@ircm.qc.ca
Email 2: valerie.lavastre@ircm.qc.ca
Phone: 438-825-1425
Web page

Deborah Villafranca-Baughman, PhD
Montreal Clinical Research Institute (IRCM) and postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University (California, United States)
Email 1: reseau.vision@ircm.qc.ca
Email 2: deborah.villafranca-baughman@ircm.qc.ca
Web page

Additional members are appointed based on their expertise to address specific strategic needs. An international advisory board, composed of leading scientists, as well as representatives from patient associations, private foundations and the biopharmaceutical industry, also provides support in strategic decisions.

An International Advisory Committee also provides support in strategic decisions.

This committee is composed of several scientific experts and the members are appointed by the director of the Network.

International Advisory Committee’s Members

Alain Chédotal, PhD
Expertise: neuroanatomy, development, transgenic mice, neuronal migration, axon guidance
Vision Institute, Paris, FRANCE
Web page

James Chodosh, MD, MPH
Expertise: Cornea, infectious diseases
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Web page

Gislin Dagnelie, MS, PhD
Expertise: Retinitis pigmentosa, visual impairment, retinal implants, low vision and rehabilitation
Wilmer Eye Institute Research, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Web page

Robin Ali, PhD, FMedSci
Expertise: Macular degeneration and retinal dystrophies, gene therapy, stem cells and regenerative biology
University College London (UCL), London , UK UM Kellogg Eye Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Web page

Francine Behar-Cohen, PhD
Expertise: Physiology and therapeutics of retinal diseases
Director at the Cordeliers Research Center (CRC), Paris-Descartes University, Paris, FRANCE
Web page

The VSRN Scientific Committee (SC), chaired by a member external to the CD, is made up of approximately 50 members, including junior and senior researchers, who evaluate the scientific quality of funding applications and make recommendations for awards, scholarships, and grants. The SC also promotes the training of the next generation by pairing postdoctoral fellows with senior researchers. The SC evaluates the scientific quality of applications within the various programs, ranks the applications, and forwards its recommendations to the SC Chair. Final decisions and amounts allocated are ultimately approved by the Network Director.

Présidence du Comité scientifique

Stephanie Proulx, PhD
Hôpital du Saint-Sacrement – CHU de Québec – Université Laval
Quebec
Web page

The student committee

The Vision Science Research Network (VSRN) Student Committee (SC) represents a diverse and motivated group of learners, including graduate students, medical students, and residents. All SC members conduct their research under the supervision of a regular or associate member of the Network (with the exception of international representatives) and report to the CD. The SC is responsible for monitoring the progress of the VSRN’s objectives and planning.

Objectives of the SC :

Strengthening student engagement and collaboration in vision science research
Increase the visibility of research achievements within the network and beyond
Provide mentoring and networking opportunities for learners
Support the organization of conferences and events to promote knowledge exchange
Improve national/international representation and encourage global research collaborations

Through these initiatives, the VSRN SC aims to create a dynamic support environment that encourages the next generation of vision science researchers.

Interested in joining the Student Committee? Complete this form and send it to reseau.vision@ircm.qc.ca.

APPLICATION FORM