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Ophthalmology Presentations

How to discover retinal genes for human blindness, and make a treatment plan

Dr. Robert Koenekoop (Rob) was born in Stockholm Sweden, but went to high school and the University of Utrecht in The Netherlands. After Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Biology, Vegetation Science and Population Biology, a Fulbright fellowship from Amsterdam brought him to the USA for a PhD in Molecular Biology. His wife then brought him to Quebec, Canada and Medical school studies at the University of Toronto and ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ followed. He saw the light in the retina clinic and finished his residency in Ophthalmology at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ and his Ocular Genetics and Paediatric Ophthalmology Fellowships at Johns Hopkins University. For the past 25 years he has devoted his research career to discovering new retinal genes for childhood blindness due to retinal degenerations. For the past few years he is testing the safety and efficacy of new therapies for inherited retinal degenerations, with some very important early successes. He has a broad background in human clinical trials and drug development, molecular genetics, clinical and paediatric ophthalmology, retinal degenerations, childhood blindness research and data analyses. In the past few years, in international collaborations, he has been able to discover 15+ new genes for childhood blindness due to retinal degenerations. This work was supported by grants from NIH (NEI), CIHR, Fighting Blindness Canada, The MCH foundation, Telethon of stars, the FRSQ and Reseau de Vision. This led to the publication of 140+ peer-reviewed papers. He is now the principle investigator (PI) at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ, the Montreal Children’s Hospital and the MUHC Center for Innovative Medicine (CIM) for 7 human clinical trials to test new drugs, new genes, new genetic methods and other modalities to combat blindness due to photoreceptor diseases. At ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ he is currently Professor of Paediatric Surgery, Human Genetics and Adult Ophthalmology. In his free time, he bikes 365 days per year, reads historical fiction and keeps a plant based diet.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the mechanism of action of gene replacement therapy and its potential application in various genetic diseases
2. Gain knowledge in various clinical studies and into gene-therapy research for IRDs
3. Define the clinical end-points and measurements used in different trial

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   What's New in Ophthalmology?

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Dr. Huang is a comprehensive ophthalmologist at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ and has been in practice for 10 years. She works at the Hospital du Suroît and St. Mary's Hospital where she teaches cataract surgery to senior residents.

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Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize symptoms
2. Know when to refer
3. Name management options

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   Periocular Skin Tumours: Recognition, Diagnosis and Management

Following his postgraduate training in ophthalmology at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ, Dr. Arthurs undertook a subspecialty in oculoplastic and orbital surgery at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital and New York Eye and Ear Infirmary. He graduated from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Renowned ophthalmologist, Dr. Arthurs holds a professorship in the Department of Ophthalmology at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ. He has published several scientific articles, book chapters and a volume in the field of Oculoplastics. He made ​​scientific presentations at various local and international conferences and is active in research. Dr. Arthurs is involved in the teaching of Ophthalmology and Oculoplastics at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ and the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the causes of skin cancer
2. Explain measures to prevent periocular tumours
3. Recognize common features that help with the diagnosis of skin tumours

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   The Most Common Eye Diseases

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Dr. Silvin Bakalian, MD, PhD, is an ophthalmologist with 3 different sub-specialities:Ìý ocular ultrasound, ocular oncology, cornea and anterior segment diseases. She currently works at Val d'Or regional hospital and she is a clinical lecturer at ³ÉÈËVRÊÓƵ and a visiting Professor at MUHC Ocular Pathology Research Laboratory.

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Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the most common eye diseases (cataract, glaucoma, age related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy)
2. Identify the proper signs and symptoms of each disease
3. Determine if referral is required to an optometrist/ophthalmologist for these ocular diseases
4. Recognize the medical and surgical treatment options for each disease