COETF Awards Aid Vision Research

Thursday, May 29 2025 | 15 h 08 min | News

Students, staff and faculty at the University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science have been awarded funding by the Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund (COETF) to further their research in areas including glaucoma, amblyopia and concussion.

UWaterloo Master's student Ashita Bidarkar (right) works with supervisor Dr. Vivian Choh in her lab. — UWaterloo Master’s student Ashita Bidarkar (right) works with supervisor Dr. Vivian Choh in her lab.

The Canadian Optometric Education Trust Fund (COETF) was created in 1976 to assist programs in research, education and human resources development in the vision and eye care field in Canada.

This year, the School was awarded more than $31,000 in funding for 10 projects. Waterloo people and projects supported through this year’s COETF awards program are as follows:

Cassandra Huynh, MSc student – Evaluating efficacy and cytotoxicity of rutin as a novel anti-inflammatory compound for treating ocular surface disease
Dr. Sharon Qiu, OD; PhD candidate – Comparing the Fit and Performance of Scleral Lenses with Oval and Circular Limbal Zones
Nijani Nagaarudkumaran, PhD candidate – Examining Autophagy Activity in Human Ocular Surface Cells
Anne Marie Yeboah, PhD candidate – Eye Tracking and Concussion
Dr. Parvin Shokrollahi, research associate – Design and Preparation of 3D printed Ocular Inserts for Anti-viral Drug Delivery to the Eye
Dr. Sarah MacIver, associate clinical professor – At-Home Modified Diurnal Intraocular Pressure Patterns in Asian and Caucasian Patients with Normal Tension Glaucoma
Shilpa Gorla, PhD candidate – Investigating the presence of TRPV1 and TRPV4 channels and their role on the biomechanics of chicken lenses

COETF also announced additional funding from the Dorrie Morrow Fund, which supports projects focusing on children’s vision, particularly for marginalized and at-risk children who do not have access to regular vision care. Waterloo projects awarded through the Dorrie Morrow Fund are as follows:

Ashita Bidarkar, MSc student – PERG and mfERGs following short-term chromatic adaptation in myopes and non-myopes
Erica Chow, MSc student – Effects of atropine treatment on KCNQ5 deficient zebrafish
Lauren Hoare, MSc student – The impact of amblyopia on walking in children

All three 2025 Dorrie Morrow Fund recipients also received funding in 2024.

The COETF is self-funded by optometrists. To learn more or support future research, see coetf.ca. The deadline for award applications is in early February of each year.

Source: University of Waterloo

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