Funded between 2011-2015 (Lucie Germain) and since 2015 (Stéphanie Proulx)
Goal
This infrastructure distributes the biological material necessary for the various research projects of vision researchers who are members of the Vision Sciences Research Network (VSRN).
Description
Héma-Québec is the organization responsible for collecting eyeballs for transplants and research. In the Quebec City region, eyeballs are sent to the Eye Bank at the Centre Universitaire d’Ophtalmologie (CUO) at the Hôpital St-Sacrement. Technicians at the Eye Bank evaluate the quality of the tissues. Eyeballs/corneas that do not qualify for transplants are offered for research. Before distributing the tissues to research teams, the infrastructure coordinator anonymizes the eyeballs and corneas.
Impact
For the period 2012-2018, 28 researchers, clinical researchers and collaborators (provincial and international) supported by 64 students, trainees and research professionals used this infrastructure to advance their research. Since 2012, the results of this research have generated 24 scientific publications and 269 conference presentations. Access to this infrastructure has helped researchers obtain more than $5 million in research funding (operating grants) from various organizations (CIHR, NSERC, Foundations, etc.) since 2012. These funds have also enabled the recruitment and training of highly qualified personnel. During the last year (January 2018 to December 2018), we received and used 164 corneas and 153 eyeballs.
This infrastructure is available to all VSRN member researchers. It allows for original research using human tissue. Ultimately, research conducted using this infrastructure will advance knowledge in the field of ophthalmology. This knowledge could lead to the development of new treatments for the care of patients with eye diseases.
Infrastructure administrator
Stéphanie Proulx, PhD, Regular Researcher of the Regenerative Medicine Axis, Saint-Sacrement Hospital, Full Professor, Département d’ophtalmologie et d’oto-rhino-laryngologie – chirugie cervico-faciale, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval
