School of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) has announced the results of the Spring 2025 Project Grant competition, awarding a total of $411 million to support 444 research projects across the country. Among the recipients are Dr. Myeong Jin Ju and Dr. Joanne Matsubara, a collaborative team in the Vision Research Cluster, who secured funding for their innovative study on age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
Their project, titled “Establishment of a novel multi-parametric assessment protocol for identification of distinctive pathological pathways in age-related macular degeneration,” seeks to unravel the complex mechanisms underlying AMD and pave the way for more precise diagnostics.
AMD affects approximately 2.5 million Canadians, with nearly 180,000 experiencing significant vision loss—a number expected to rise with Canada’s aging population. Despite its prevalence, the exact causes and progression of AMD remain poorly understood.
Drs. Ju and Matsubara aim to change that. Their study will employ advanced multi-mode optical coherence tomography (M2-OCT) to image the aging retina in unprecedented detail. By switching between high-speed and polarization-sensitive modes, this new imaging system allows for comprehensive functional assessment of the retina, focusing on three critical structures: photoreceptors, the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and the choroid.
The research will examine how aging impacts the photoreceptor-RPE-choroid (PRC) complex by measuring photoreceptor light responses, detecting RPE atrophy through changes in polarization, and monitoring choroidal blood flow. Additionally, the team will apply the imaging system to mouse models of AMD, including genetically modified and laser-induced models, to identify AMD-specific changes and validate their diagnostic protocol.
By combining novel imaging technologies with cutting-edge analysis, this research has the potential to transform how AMD is detected and understood, ultimately improving outcomes for Canadians at risk of vision loss.