BUSNA Awards 2024 Birdshot Research Grants
Birdshot Uveitis Society of North America (BUSNA) is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2024 research grants. These awards are in fulfillment of BUSNA’s mission to support Birdshot patients and raise funds for Birdshot research.
A total of $16,000 has been distributed to two American and two Canadian research institutions that are investigating the causal factors and treatment protocols for this sight-threatening autoimmune eye disease.
BUSNA raised the funds from direct donations, Giving Tuesday contributions, T-shirt sales and from Facebook Birthday fundraisers. Many thanks to those in our community who have made valuable contributions.
The recipients of this year’s grants are as follows:
1. Marie-Josee Aubin, MD, MSc, MPH, Ophthalmologist, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montréal, Quebec; Assistant Professor at the University of Montreal
Dr Aubin’s research involves dissecting Birdshot Chorioretinopathy with visual electro-physiology and multimodal imaging.
2. Larissa Derzko-Dzulynsky MD, FRCSC, Ophthalmologist, Assistant Professor in the University of Toronto, Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences
Kirill Zaslavsky, MD/PhD, HBSc, (Lead Investigator), Ophthalmology Resident, Inherited Retinal Degenerations Fellow at Massachusetts eye and Ear, Boston
Dr Derzko-Dzulynsky and Dr Zaslavsky’s research involves single cell mRNA sequencing of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in birdshot uveitis.
3. Lynn Hassman, MD PhD, Ophthalmologist, Assistant Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Sue Anschutz-Rodgers Eye Center
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Dr Hassman’s research combines advanced techniques of single cell RNA sequencing, immune receptor profiling and genetic analysis to uncover the immune and molecular causes of uveitis and related eye disorders.
4. Shilpa Kodati, MBBS, Ophthalmologist, Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center
Dr Kodati is involved in three research studies. The first aims to characterize changes in the retinal microvasculature using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) in Birdshot Chorioretinopathy. The second is investigating changes in the gut microbiota and metabolome in non-infectious uveitis. The third is investigating T cell receptor profiling in Birdshot Chorioretinopathy.
To read more about these and other BUSNA-supported research projects, please visit BUSNA’s research page.
Since its inception in 2020, BUSNA has contributed a total of $41,915 to various Birdshot research studies. With ongoing support, we look forward to continued collaboration with researchers who are striving to find a cure for Birdshot Uveitis.
Please visit our website donation page and consider making a contribution to Birdshot research.