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welcome to view point calgary: live stream

Jump To: Accessing the Live Stream | Program | Meet the Speakers | Get Involved | Sponsors

accessing the live stream

Make sure you are registered to receive the zoom link. One link will provide you access to a stream of all three sessions described in this program. Please note that as this conference is being broadcast live, there will be breaks between sessions. The times below are in mountain time. Please adjust based on your location.

We will be able to take some questions from the online audience. To ask a question, please type it into the Q&A box on your zoom toolbar, or email us at education@fightingblindness.ca. If we are unable to answer your question live, please reach out to us via our Health Information Line at 1.888.626.2995 or healthinfo@fightingblindness.ca.

Please click the button below to register. If you need any assistance, please reach out to us at education@fightingblindess.ca or call 1.800.461.3331 ext 246

REGISTER FOR THE LIVE STREAM

pROGRAM

12 – 12:15 p.m. – Opening Remarks
Welcome to View Point! Hear from Fighting Blindness Canada’s President & CEO, Jennifer Jones.

12:15 – 1 p.m. – Adapting to Vision Loss: Support & Self-Discovery
Featuring Dagmar Jamieson, Wayne Kostiuk & Sandra Neidermier
Join us for a candid conversation with people living with vision loss as they share personal stories of diagnosis, adaptation, and resilience. This panel offers real-life insights, hard-earned wisdom, and supportive reflections for those on a similar journey.

1 – 1:15 p.m. – Break

1:15 – 2 p.m. – Ask the Expert: Inherited Retinal Diseases (IRDS)
There are over 20 inherited retinal diseases including retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, Usher syndrome, and Leber congenital amaurosis. Being diagnosed with one of these conditions can be challenging, and you may have many questions about your care, or what treatments are available or currently being studied. Dr. Matt Benson will give an overview of IRDs and answer your questions.

2 – 2:15 p.m. – Break

2:15 – 3 p.m. – Understanding Stem Cell Treatments for Retinal Disorders: Achievements and Hurdles
Learn about the current progress and challenges in stem cell treatments for retinal disorders with Dr. Deepak Lamba. This session will explain what’s possible today, what’s still being researched, and what it all means for people living with vision loss.

MEET THE SPEAKERS

Dr. Deepak Lamba is a distinguished Scientist affiliated with the departments of Immunology, Regenerative Medicine and Neuroscience at Genentech. He is a clinician-scientist with over 20 years’ research experience working on retinal development, stem-cell based repair mechanisms and disease modeling with a focus on translational research. His work aims to bridge the gap between laboratory research and clinical application, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes in ocular health.

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Dr. Matthew Benson is a clinician-scientist in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at the University of Alberta, where he holds the Bayer Professorship in Translational Research in Ophthalmology. He completed his graduate studies and ophthalmology residency at the University of Alberta, followed by a fellowship in ocular genetics at the National Eye Institute, NIH. His clinical focus includes inherited eye diseases and strabismus, and he leads a research lab investigating the underlying mechanisms of inherited retinal disorders.

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Dagmar Jamieson was born in the Czech Republic and moved to Canada with her family at age nine. A few years later, she was diagnosed as legally blind due to Cone-Rod dystrophy, a rare inherited eye condition. Despite the challenges, she lives life with energy and purpose—most recently learning to water ski and wakeboard after being invited to train with the adaptive national team. Her journey is one of resilience, adaptability, and a refusal to let vision loss define her limits.

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Wayne Kostiuk was born in Melfort, Saskatchewan, in 1954 and moved to Calgary in the mid-1970s to begin a career in commercial construction. In 1985, a routine eye exam led to a diagnosis of Retinitis Pigmentosa, with no family history of the condition. As his vision declined, Wayne faced challenges—including giving up his driver’s license—but found support through family, friends, the CNIB, and Fighting Blindness Canada. After transitioning from the job site to the office, he retired in 2020. Today, Wayne enjoys fishing, gardening, and traveling, and remains involved in RP research through FBC.

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Sandra Niedermier earned a Master’s Degree from the University of Calgary and enjoyed a fulfilling career with the Calgary Board of Education, retiring in 2002 as principal of its first arts-centered learning school. In retirement, she has traveled extensively and pursued her passion for the performing and visual arts. More recently, Sandra has faced challenges with vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration and geographic atrophy—difficulties she hopes future generations can avoid through ongoing research and advancements in treatment.

gET iNVOLVED

• Volunteer with us! Interested in joining our dedicated community? Email us to learn about volunteer opportunities at info@fightingblindness.ca.
• On Sunday, June 22, 2025, let’s move together to support vital research. Move with us – your way. MOVEFOR SIGHT.ca
• Have questions about your eye health? FBC is here to support you. Contact our Health Information Line for information, resources and more. 1.888.626.2995 | healthinfo@fightingblindness.ca
• Help Protect Sight. Every Month. Your monthly gift fuels life-changing research and educational events. Become a monthly donor. Small gift, big impact. fightingblindness.ca/donate

vIEW POINT sPONSORS

Thank you to our View Point Partners

Platinum Presenting Partner: Bayer

Gold Partner: Roche

Silver Partners: Abbvie, Astellas, Beacon Therapeutics, Johnson & Johnson & SpecSavers