Report of VHRC Meeting at ARVO

At the VHRC meeting at ARVO last week, there were close to 100 members of the Canadian Vision Research community present (I apologize for renting a room for 50 people - I never anticipated such a huge turnout). The names and affiliations of the attendees are attached (See list below).  If you attended and I didn't put your name on the list, I apologize and ask that you email the correction to me.  It is important that we have as accurate a count of everything we do, when it comes to documenting the size and scope of the Canadian Vision Health Research Community. (The attachments are in .bin and .hqx formats, which I hope are readable for PCs and Macs, respectively.)

The impetus for the ARVO meeting of Canadian scientists was the "Health" budget of February where the government promised the injection of perhaps $500 million NEW dollars for health-related research over the next three years.  Could we, the vision community, be large enough and organized enough to claim special status within the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) for individual standing, rather than as a part of neuroscience?  There is the erroneous belief, at the highest levels of MRC, that there are very few vision researchers in Canada.  By their count, only 33 scientists have "eye' related funding from MRC, so the community must (by their logic) be small.  The ARVO email list of Canadian members has 360 names.  There were at least 220 Canadian-authored presentations at this year's ARVO (I put notices of the meeting on at least 200 posters!).  We have to overcome this obvious misperception of being too small to be considered in funding and reviewing committees.

The organization of Canadian vision scientists has begun with the founding of the Vision Health Research Council (VHRC) by Dr. Jean Real Brunette.  Go to the web page to see who is helping Dr. Brunette, and what has been done so far.  http://www.crc-cuse.usherb.ca/vision/research/website.htm

Another major organization has also just been formed: The National Coalition for Vision Health.  The need for this umbrella organization became clear when CNIB/E.A. Baker Foundation organized a meeting this past October of all vision-related stakeholders, from basic scientists to rehabilitation and education specialists, and consumers.  Visit the CNIB website for more information. This group will be the major advocate for vision health-related issues. http://www.cnib.ca

The ARVO meeting showed that there is great interest and enthusiasm from Canadian scientists for better organization, communication, and funding.  There is clear need for :
 
1.  Inventory  (how many are we, exactly?)
2.  Advocacy
3.  Setting priorities

From the discussion, it is clear that we have to begin an open, transparent, inclusive process for reaching a goal that will see vision research having the status and funding it deserves.  I invite your comments and suggestions.  The VHRC website will provide a major focus for our efforts to stay connected.

Let me close by telling you how overwhelmed I was by the number of people who trekked over from the convention centre, and gave up their lunch time, to attend this meeting.  It proved to me, and I hope to
everyone reading this, that we are a force, a LARGE force, to be heard from and considered in any apportioning exercise for funding.

Thanks, everybody,
Marty Steinbach

Martin J. Steinbach, Ph. D., Professor of Psychology & Biology  Centre for Vision Research    Atkinson College  York University  4700 Keele Street North York, Ontario  Canada M3J 1P3  Voice: (416) 736-2100, x. 66472  Fax:   (416) 736-5662 e-mail: mjs@yorku.ca

Professor of Ophthalmology Faculty of Medicine University of Toronto Director,             Eye Research Institute of Canada The Toronto Hospital Western Division 399 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ontario Canada M5T 2S8 Voice: (416) 603-6479 Fax:   (416) 603-5126

LIST OF ATTENDEES

Russell J. Adams, Ph.D.  Memorial University of Newfoundland  Department of Psychology/Pediatrics  Psychophysics (infant)  michelem@morgan.ucs.mun.ca    Curtis L. Baker, Ph.D.  McGill University  Department of Ophthalmology  Psychophysics, neurophysiology (basic research)  curtis@astra.vision.mcgill.ca    William H. Baldridge, Ph.D.  Dalhousie University  Department of Anatomy/Neurobiology/Ophthalmology  Retina physiology  wbaldrid@is.dal.ca    Torben N. Bech-Hansen, Ph.D.  University of Calgary  Department of Medical Genetics  Ocular genetics  ntbech@ucalgary.ca    Armando Bertone, M.A.  University of Montreal  School of Optometry  Visual psychophysics/neuropsychology  bertonea@magellan.umontreal.ca    Dharmendra J. Bhoola  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  Binocular vision, suppression  djbhoola@quark.uwaterloo.ca  djbhoola@hotmail.com    Catherine M. Birt  University of Toronto  Department of Ophthalmology  Glaucoma  c.birt@utoronto.ca    Bill Bobier, O.D., Ph.D.  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  Refractive and oculomotor development in infants and children, visual screening (preschool children)  wbobier@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca    Martin Bonneville  University of Montreal  Topography (corneal)  bonnevil@iro.umontreal.ca    Shelley R. Boyd, M.D.  Moorfields Eye Hospital  Medical Retina  shelleyboyd@hotmail.com    Seymour Brownstein, M.D., F.R.C.S.C.  University of Ottawa  Eye Institute – Ottawa Hospital General Site  Ocular pathology  sbrownstein@ogh.on.ca    Isabelle Brunette, M.D.  Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital  Michel Mathieu Eye Institute  Cornea  i.brunett@videotron.ca    Murchison G. Callender, O.D., M.Sc.  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  Contact lens and corneal physiology, experimental myopia (Chick model)  mgcalle@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca    Christopher G. Carlson  University of Alberta  Department of Biological Sciences  Retinal degeneration (molecular)  ccarlson@ualberta.ca    Christian Casanova, Ph.D.  University of Montreal  School of Optometry  Central visual processing  casanovc@ere.umontreal.ca    Evanne J. Casson, Ph.D.  University of Ottawa  Eye Institute – Ottawa Hospital General Site  ecasson@ogh.on.ca    Francois Champoux Montreal Children's Hospital  Department of Ophthalmology  Electrophysiology  champof@hotmail.com    John Chen  McGill University  Department of Ophthalmology  mdcc@musica.mcgill.ca    Terri Chong, B.Sc., O.D.  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry – Center for Contact Lens Research  tchong@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca    Charles Collin  McGill University  Department of Psychology  Face and object recognition  charles@hebb.psych.mcgill.ca    Stuart G. Coupland, Ph.D.  University of Ottawa  Eye Institute – Ottawa Hospital General Site  Electrophysiology and refractive surgery outcomes  scoupland@ogh.on.ca    Mary L. Courage, Ph.D.  Memorial University of Newfoundland  Department of Psychology  Early visual development  mcourage@morgan.ucs.mun.ca    Karim F. Damji, M.D.  University of Ottawa  Eye Institute – Ottawa Hospital General Site  Glaucoma and genetics  kdamji@ogh.on.ca    Jean Deschenes, M.D., F.R.C.S.C.  McGill University  Department of Ophthalmology  Ocular immunology  jdeschen@is.rvh.mcgill.ca    Micheline C. Deschenes, M.Sc.  Rockyview General Hospital  Ophthalmology Clinic  Electrophysiology, optic nerve disease and ocular blood flow  micheline.deschenes@crha-health.ab.ca    James Drover  Memorial University of Newfoundland  Department of Psychology  Visual psychophysics  jdrover@play.psych.mun.ca    Dave Ellemberg, M.Sc.  University of Montreal  Department of Psychology  Visual development in normal infants and children deprived by cataracts  ellembed@magellan.umontreal.ca    Taline Farra, O.D., M.Sc.  New England College of Optometry  drtfarra@hotmail.com    Jocelyn Faubert, Ph.D.  University of Montreal  School of Optometry  Visual psychophysics  faubert@ere.umontreal.ca    Mathieu Faucher, M.Sc.  CHUL Research Center  Molecular Endocrinology  faucher@borabora.crchu.ulaval.ca    John G. Flanagan, O.D., Ph.D.  University of Toronto  Department of Ophthalmology  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  Toronto Western Hospital  Eye Research Institute of Canada  Glaucoma treatment, biophysics and psychophysics  jgflanag@quark.uwaterloo.ca    Lisha Gam  lishagam@ood.ki.se    Mel A. Goodale, Ph.D.  University of Western Toronto  Department of Psychology  Vision and action/visual MRI/visual neuropsychology  mgoodale@julian.uwo.ca    Keith Gordon  Alcon Canada  Scientific Affairs  keith.gordon@Alconlabs.com    Mark D.J. Greve, M.D.  University of Alberta  Department of Ophthalmology  Retina  mgreve@alberta-retina.com    Neeru Gupta, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.S.C.  University of Toronto  Department of Ophthalmology  Glaucoma and receptors (clinical, basic science -  pharmacology)  n.gupta@utoronto.ca    Claudine Habak  University of Montreal  School of Optometry  Visual psychophysics (fundamental and clinical applications)  habakc@magellan.umontreal.ca    Heather L. Hall, M.Sc.  Memorial University of Newfoundland  Department of Psychology  Pediatric visual development (normal and high-risk subjects)  hhall@play.psych.mun.ca    Patrick Hamel  Hospital for Sick Children  Department of Ophthalmology  Pediatric ophthalmology and strabismus, pediatric glaucoma  hamelpa@sympatico.ca    Marc Hebert, Ph.D.  Biological Rhythms Lab  Electrophysiology – chronobiology  mhebert@rush.edu    Elise Heon, M.D.  University of Toronto  Department of Ophthalmology  Toronto Western Hospital  Eye Research Institute of Canada Hospital for Sick Children  Department of Ophthalmology  Molecular genetics of blinding eye diseases  eheon@playfair.utoronto.ca    Robert F. Hess, Ph.D.  McGill University  Department of Ophthalmology  Normal human vision, amblyopia  rhess@bradman.vision.mcgill.ca    Jeff K. Hovis, O.D., Ph.D.  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  Visual psychophysics  jhovis@uwaterloo.ca    Natalie Hutchings, B.Sc. (Hons), Ph.D., M.C.Optom.  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  nhutchin@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca

Mark Jenkins  Memorial University of Newfoundland  Department of Psychology  Visual psychophysics  mejenkin@play.psych.mun.ca    Pierre Jolicoeur  University of Waterloo  Department of Psychology  Perception (attention and visual search)  pjolicoe@cgl.uwaterloo.ca    Joshua E. Josephson, O.D.  Contact Lenses  jj2244@aol.com    Helene Kergoat, O.D., Ph.D.  University of Montreal  School of Optometry  Ocular hemodynamics, glaucoma, aging and diseases of aging  kergoath@ere.umontreal.ca    Amin Kherani  University of Iowa  kherani@aol.com    Frederick A. Kingdom, Ph.D.  McGill University  McGill Vision Research Unit  Visual psychophysics  fred@jiffy.vision.mcgill.ca    Paulo D. Koeberle, B.Sc.  McMaster University  Anatomy  Retinal ganglion cell degeneration after axotomy  koeberpd@fhs.mcmaster.ca    Pierre Lachapelle, Ph.D.  McGill University  Montreal Children's Hospital – Ophthalmology (D -164)  Retinal electrophysiology, visual evoke potential, amblyopia, visual development  mdpl@musica.mcgill.ca    Susan J. Leat  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  Psychophysics, low vision and pediatric vision  leat@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca    Terri L. Lewis, Ph.D.  McMaster University  Department of Psychology  Visual development in normal infants and children deprived by cataracts  lewistl@mcmaster.ca    John V. Lovasik, O.D., M.Sc., Ph.D.  University of Montreal  School of Optometry  Visual neurophysiology, ocular blood flow and ophthalmic imaging  lovasikj@opto.umontreal.ca    Per O. Lundmark  Toronto Western Hospital  Department of Ophthalmology  Glaucoma  per@playfair.utoronto.ca    Shelley McColl, M.Sc.  McGill University  Department of Psychology  Visual psychophysics (clinical applications)  mccoll@ego.psych.mcgill.ca    Anne McSween  Montreal Children's Hospital  Department of Ophthalmology  Retinal electrophysiology  anjo@total.net    Donald E. Mitchell, Ph.D.  Dalhousie University  Department of Psychology  Visual cortical development and plasticity; visual perceptual development  mitchell@is.dal.ca    Steve Moisan, M.Sc.  CHUL Research Center  Molecular Endocrinology  stevemoisan@yahoo.com    Kathy T. Mullen, Ph.D.  McGill University  Department of Ophthalmology  Normal human color vision  kmullen@violet.vision.mcgill.ca    Rejean Munger, Ph.D.  University of Ottawa  Eye Institute – Ottawa Hospital General Site  rmunger@ogh.on.ca    David Nguyen-Tri, B.A.  University of Montreal  School of Optometry  Visual psychophysics (color)  nguyentd@magellan.umontreal.ca    Elizabeth S. Olds, Ph.D.  University of Waterloo  Department of Psychology  Visual psychophysics (attention, search, object recognition)  esolds@cgl.uwaterloo.ca    Vinay Phokeo, B.Sc.  McMaster University  Pathology and Molecular Medicine  Retinal ganglion cell anatomy, degeneration, survival and regeneration  phokeov@fhs.mcmaster.ca    C. Lisa Prokopich  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  clp@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca    Micheal G. Quigley, M.D.  McGill University  Department of Ophthalmology  University of Montreal  Department of Ophthalmology  Retina/image analysis/physiology  quigley.wilson@sympatico.ca   Vincent Raymond, M.D., Ph.D.  CHUL Research Center  Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory  Molecular genetics of the glaucomas  vincent.raymond@crchul.ulaval.ca    El-Karim Rhemtulla  University of Toronto  Department of Ophthalmology  Toronto Western Hospital  Eye Research Institute of Canada  elkarim@playfair.utoronto.ca    Barbara E. Robinson, O.D. Ph.D.  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  Epidemiology, vision screening and refractive errors robinson@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca    Marianne Rufiange  Montreal Children's Hospital  Department of Ophthalmology  Retinal electrophysiology  rufimari@chscm.umontreal.ca    Mitra Sehizadeh, B.Sc.  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  msehizad@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca    Lyn Sibley, B.Sc.  St. Paul's Hospital  Department of Ophthalmology  Blindness, vision loss and ocular pathology  lmsibley@stpaulshosp.bc.ca    Ping Situ, B.Sc.  University of Waterloo  School of Optometry  Psychophysics of vision/tear film/neuroscience  psitu@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca    Robert St John, Ph.D.  Royal Military College  Department of Psychology  Visual psychophysics and some clinical psychophysics  stjohn-r@rmc.ca    Martin J. Steinbach, Ph.D.  York University  Center for Vision Research  University of Toronto  Faculty of Medicine  Toronto Western Hospital  Eye Research Institute of Canada  Eye movement control mechanisms  mjs@yorku.ca    William K. Stell, M.D.  University of Calgary  Anatomy & Lions Sight Center  wstell@acs.ucalgary.ca    Matthew T. Tennant, M.D.  University of Alberta  Department of Ophthalmology  Teleophthalmology  mtennant@ualberta.ca    Diacohu Vasile  University of Montreal  School of Optometry  Visual Psychophysics  diacohuv@ere.umontreal.ca    Micheal A. Walter, Ph.D.  University of Alberta  Department of Ophthalmology/Medical Genetics  Ocular genetics  mwalter@ualberta.ca    Andrew Wear  Dalhousie University  Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology  Electrophysiology  weara@is2.dal.ca    Judy A. West-Mays, Ph.D.  New England Medical Center  Department of Ophthalmology  Developmental biology and wound healing  jwestmay@opal.tufts.edu    Fran Wickinson  McGill University  Department of Psychology  Visual psychophysics; migraine and vision  fran@hebb.psych.mcgill.ca    Donna Williams-Lyn, Ph.D.  Toronto Western Hospital  Eye Research Institute of Canada  University of Toronto  Department of Ophthalmology  Glaucoma psychophysics and genetics, corneal and contact lens research  donna@playfair.utoronto.ca  donna@quark.uwaterloo.ca    Christian A. Wong, B.Sc.  University of British Columbia  Eye Care Center  Retina  chris@org.ecc.ubc.ca    Paul Wong, Ph.D.  University of Alberta  Department of Biological Sciences  Retinal degeneration  pwwong@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca    Allison M. Wright  McMaster University  Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine  Retinal degeneration and anatomy  wrightam@mcmaster.ca    Yeni H. Yucel, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P.C.  University of Toronto  Department of Ophthalmology/Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology  Glaucoma (central visual system, optic nerve, pathology)  yeni.yucel@utoronto.ca

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