Breadcrumb

null Miguel Burnier, MD, M.Sc., PhD, FRCSC

Senior Scientist, RI-MUHC, Glen site

Cancer Research Program

Centre for Translational Biology

Professor, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University

Department of Surgery, Division of Adult Ophthalmology, MUHC

 

Keywords

Uveal melanoma • ocular pathology • liquid biopsy • metastasis • preclinical models • translational research

Research Focus

My research focuses on ocular imaging technology, ocular anterior and posterior segment disease, and ocular cancers, particularly uveal melanoma. Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular tumour in adults. Metastatic liver disease is the overwhelming cause of death in these patients, with almost 50% developing liver metastases up to 15 years after diagnosis. Currently, there are no therapeutic modalities to prevent or efficiently treat this metastatic disease, but discoveries in our laboratory have shed light on molecular pathways that may contribute to the progression of liver metastasis. We aim to provide new insights into genetic and molecular pathways that may play a role in the development of liver metastases from uveal melanoma. With a translational research approach, we study isolated uveal melanoma cells, an animal model of uveal melanoma and metastatic disease, and an extensive human specimen bank to determine the molecular mechanisms and clinical implications underlying uveal melanoma. Our clinical trials are conducted at the Centre for Innovative Medicine.

Selected Publications

Click on Pubmed to see my current publications list

  • Nayman T, Bostan C, Logan P, Burnier MN Jr., Uveal Melanoma risk factors: a systematic review of meta-analyses. Curr Eye Res. 2017;42(8): 1085-93.

  • Zoroquiain P., Logan P, Bravo-Filho V., Vila N., Jabbour S, Orellana M.E., Burnier M.N. Diagnosing Pathological Prognostic Factors in Retinoblastoma: Correlation between traditional microscopy and digital slides. Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2015; 1(4).

  • Blanco P., Marshall J.C., Antecka E., Pessoa de Souza J., Saraiva V., Burnier M.N. Jr. : Characterization of Ocular and Metastatic Uveal Melanoma in an Animal Model. IOVS, 10-14-2005.

  • Callejo SA, Antecka E, Blanco PL, Edelstein C, Burnier MN Jr. Identification of circulating malignant cells and its correlation with prognostic factors and treatment in uveal melanoma. A prospective longitudinal study. Eye. 2007 Jun;21(6):752-9. Epub 2006 Mar 31.

  • Bakalian S., Marshall J.C., Faingold D., Logan P., Antecka E., Burnier M.N. Jr. Expression of NM23-H1 in Uveal Melanoma. Mel Res. 2007 Oct;17(5): 284-90.