Comprised of internationally renowned vision research scientists, Fighting Blindness Canada’s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) reviews every funding proposal and research application submitted to the FBC to ensure they meet the highest standards of scientific merit.

Rigorous review for scientific merit by the SAB ensures that dollars donated to FBC are used to fund the most productive and promising research projects, addressing crucial questions about the causes and treatments of blinding eye diseases.

Members of FBC’s Scientific Advisory Board bring a wide range of expertise to FBC’s scientific decision-making in genetics, molecular genetics, stem cell biology, biochemistry, cell biology, and other areas of vision research. SAB members volunteer their services to Fighting Blindness Canada and are currently engaged in sight-saving research.

The SAB is responsible for evaluating research applications submitted to FBC’s grant competition(s). SAB members also aid in promoting vision research amongst the scientific community and help to ensure the quality and accuracy of FBC’s educational programs and materials. In so doing, the SAB helps to ensure that FBC-funded research receives broad distribution amongst the scientific community, thereby contributing to the advancement of vision research as a whole.

Thanks to the guidance of our Scientific Advisory Boards, past and present, scientists funded by Fighting Blindness Canada have consistently accomplished their research goals and have been responsible for major research breakthroughs.

Michel Cayouette, PhD (Chair) Vice President, Research & Academic Affairs at the Montreal Clinical Research Institute; Director, Quebec Vision Health Research Network, an FRQS thematic network; Professor, Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal; Adjunct Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University

Robin Ali, PhD Professor of Human Molecular Genetics, University College London

Seth Blackshaw, PhD Professor of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Sylvain Chemtob, MD, PhD Professor, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology and Pharmacology, University of Montreal Canada Research Chair in Vision, Tier 1

Bob Chow, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Biology, University of Victoria

David Gamm, MD, PhD Associate Professor, RRF Emmett A. Humble Distinguished Director, McPherson Eye Research Institute, Waisman Center Stem Cell Research Program

Tony Moore, FRCOphth, FMedSci Michal Vilensky Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology UCSF School of Medicine San Francisco

Przemyslaw (Mike) Sapieha, Ph.D. Wolfe Professorship in Translational Vision Research 2016 Associate Professor, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Research Centre, University of Montreal

Carol Schuurmans, PhD Senior scientist, Dixon Family Chair in Ophthalmology, Sunnybrook Research Institute

Janey Wiggs, MD, PhD Paul Austin Chandler Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School Vice Chair and Associate Chief, Ophthalmology Clinical Research; Associate Director, Ocular Genomics Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard University

Don Zack, MD, PhD Co-director, Johns Hopkins Center for Stem Cells and Ocular Regenerative Medicine (STORM), Johns Hopkins Medicine

Larissa Moniz, PhD (non-voting member) Director of Research & Mission Programs for Fighting Blindness Canada