Pierre Lachapelle, PhD, Director, Visual Electrophysiology

Our research team is working on approaches to studying the functional integrity of the human visual system, from the retina to the visual cortex. Our laboratory also characterizes animal models of such human retinal diseases as retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, and retinitis pigmentosa. We aim to better explain the pathogenesis of these retinopathies and ultimately to explore new therapeutic strategies.

One project involves the use of newly developed mathematical tools to extract clinical information from residual electroretinograms (ERGs). Using residual ERGs to model the progression of severe and debilitating retinopathies could make it possible to construct a disease/symptoms classification system. This would lead to a more accurate diagnosis and prognosis for the affected patients. Such a system is also likely to have significant impact on patient management, now that clinical trials exploring therapeutic avenues for the eradication of such retinopathies are underway.