Under the direction of Dr. Miguel Burnier, the Burnier International Ocular Pathology Society (BIOPSY) was founded in 2008 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Henry C. Witelson Ocular Pathology Laboratory, located within the Research Institute at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC-RI). The goals of the Society are threefold:
- To unite past and current laboratory members and trainees
- To foster academic and professional growth globally
- To promote collaborative research in ocular diseases and pathology
Following their training in the laboratory, most BIOPSY members have gone to become leaders in ophthalmology and pathology in Canada and worldwide. BIOPSY currently consists of 200 members from 20 different countries, and is continuously growing. The Society held its first scientific meeting in 2010 in Montreal, Quebec and since then, scientific meetings have been held biennially at international locations - Spain (2012) and Brazil (2014). Each meeting incorporates a thorough scientific program on rare case presentations and the members’ relevant research work.
About the Laboratory:
Founded in 1999, the Henry C. Witelson Ocular Pathology Laboratory, located within the MUHC-RI, is a unique facility in Canada and has become the largest ocular pathology research and training centre in North America. The Laboratory offers the only ocular pathology graduate program in North America through McGill University and has graduated over 25 alumni since its inception. The Laboratory also plays a crucial role as a consultancy service to pathologists, ophthalmologists and oncologists, as well as a teaching facility to medical students, fellows, residents and graduate students from Canada and around the world. To learn more, please visit OcularPathLab.