The University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry unites vision researchers through its newly launched Vision Science Consortium.
The University of Waterloo’s School of Optometry and Vision Science is proud to announce the launch of the Waterloo Eye Institute Vision Science Consortium (WEI VSC), connecting researchers across campus who are working to understand, protect, and enhance human vision.
At the helm of its establishment is Dr. Austin Roorda, a professor in the School of Optometry and Vision Science. When Roorda joined the school, he set a goal to establish new connections to advance his research. He has always viewed vision science as a multidisciplinary field that requires expertise from a wide range of disciplines.
He found that collaborative approaches to innovative solutions are embedded in Waterloo’s culture. In Optometry, Lyndon Jones and Maud Gorbet (Systems Design Engineering) have collaborated for more than 20 years, bringing together complementary expertise in vision science, biomaterials and engineering to advance knowledge of tear film and contact lenses, Krista Kelly has teamed up with Ewa Niechwiej-Szwedo (Kinesiology and Health Sciences) to study hand-eye coordination in children with strabismus, and Stanley Woo is also working with Helen Chen (School of Public Health) to develop Can-View, a national eye data repository for AI-driven vision care.
Non-contact corneal aesthesiometer in Paul Murphy's lab
Roorda’s goal is to accelerate more research partnerships like this by developing a community that will strengthen, showcase and leverage the depth of vision science expertise at Waterloo.
“Unlike most disciplines where researchers are trained with a single set of skills and apply them in different areas, Vision Science is a field where multiple disciplines are directed toward one system – human vision,” says Roorda. “This is why the consortium is so important. By facilitating multidisciplinary collaborations, the WEI-VSC will ensure that the University of Waterloo will be better poised to make impacts in vision healthcare and research.”
Strabismus research in Krista Kelly's lab
Eye gaze during flight
Corneal Topography Measurement at CORE
Brain computer interface research in James Tung's lab
Ophthalmoscope Technology Development in Jennifer Hunter's lab
The WEI VSC comprises 57 researchers from 12 departments and spans 37 research areas. More than half of the consortium’s members are researchers outside the School of Optometry and Vision Science, a testament to Waterloo’s breadth of expertise and culture of collaboration.
The vision for the WEI VSC is to build a community that will serve as a one-stop hub for current and prospective researchers looking for collaborators. Through these connections, the consortium also aims to foster more interdisciplinary training opportunities for students, whether informally or through joint degree programs.
“The WEI is a national resource for education, clinical care and research,” says Ben Thompson, the Director of the School of Optometry. “The VSC provides a platform that will accelerate activity in all three of these areas enabling the development of new knowledge, skills, technologies and treatments.”
Learn more about the Waterloo Eye Institute and Vision Science Consortium.
Multisensory Research in Michael Barnett-Cowan's lab