About ARIAL

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An ophthalmologist uses a variety of imaging modalities to help evaluate and monitor the health of your eyes. The Advanced Retinal Imaging and Analysis Laboratory is a partnership between UBC clinicians and SFU engineers working with a number of collaborators both locally and internationally to advance the biomedical applications of optical coherence tomography (OCT). OCT is a non-invasive medical imaging modality which enables three-dimensional, micrometer-resolution of the eye. Currently, we are designing and developing advanced OCT systems for both OCT Angiography (OCT-A), a potential alternative to fluorescein angiography and Adaptive Optics (AO) OCT, an imaging modality which permits imaging of the eye on a sub-cellular level. In addition to creating state-of-the-art OCT systems, our work also involves the creation of advanced image processing software for improved visualization and clinical analysis of the images.

Eduardo V. Navajas MD, PhD, FRCSC
Clinical Assistant Professor,
Vitreoretinal Surgeon,
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences,
University of British Columbia

Dr. Eduardo V. Navajas is a subspecialist in Vitreoretinal Surgery. He joined the faculty of the Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia in December 2014. Prior to this, he was attending Vitreoretinal Surgeon at Queens University, Kingston, Ontario.

Dr. Navajas provides medical and surgical care for patients with age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusion, retinal detachment, epiretinal membrane, macular hole and other diseases of the retina.

He is active in clinical research, having published peer reviewed articles, book chapters, and abstracts in society meetings.  As a member of the Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute, Dr Navajas is involved in clinical trials and is the principal investigator of the Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research network (DRCR.net) Eye Care Centre, UBC site. His research interests include biomedical imaging in surgical and medical diseases of the retina and new technologies in retina.

Education

  • Ocular Pathology ICO Fellowship, University of Toronto
  • Ocular Oncology Fellowship, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto
  • Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, St Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto
  • PhD in Retinal Imaging, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Vitreoretinal Surgery Fellowship, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Residency in Ophthalmology, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Doctor of Medicine, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Awards and Distinctions

  • International Council of Ophthalmology Peter Watson Award for outstanding performance
  • International Council of Ophthalmology Fellowship Award
  • Best Fellow Surgeon Award, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Toronto

Professional Associations

  • Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
  • Canadian Retina Society
  • American Society of Retina Specialists
  • Canadian Ophthalmological Society
  • American Academy of Ophthalmology
  • British Columbian Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons

Dr. Navajas can be contacted at:

Eye Care Centre, Section C
2550 Willow Street, Vancouver, BC
V5Z 3N9
Phone: 604-875-5475
Fax: 604-875-5479
Email: retina@eyecarecentre.org

Marinko V. Sarunic, PhD MBA PEng
Professor, School of Engineering Science
Associate Member, Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology
Simon Fraser University

Associate Member, Opthhalmology and Visual Science, Faculty of Medicine, UBC
M.B.A. (MOT), Simon Fraser University, 2011
Ph.D. (BME), Duke University, 2006
M.A.Sc. (EE), Simon Fraser University, 2001
B.A.Sc. (EE), Simon Fraser University, 1998

Dr. Marinko Sarunic is an SFU alumnus, having received a B.A.Sc. in Engineering Physics from Simon Fraser University in 1998 and a M.A.Sc. in 2001.

Marinko completed his doctoral degree at Duke University under the direction of Dr. Joseph Izatt with a focus on Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The title of his doctoral dissertation was “Advanced systems design for Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD OCT) systems”, and included details on the development of a second harmonic spectral domain OCT system, full field quantitative nanoscale imaging, and phase processing algorithms to extend the imaging depth of FDOCT systems to accommodate the ocular anterior segment.

Presently, Dr. Sarunic is a professor at Simon Fraser University, where his research interests include biomedical imaging, optical coherence tomography (OCT), microscopy, scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and adaptive optics. More details on his research program can be found at http://BORG.ensc.sfu.ca.