Ian MacDonald, MSc, MD CM

Area of Study / Keywords

Ocular genetics Natural history choroideremia VEP retinitis pigmentosa perimetry Goldmann visual field

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About

Ian M. MacDonald MSc, MD CM is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alberta and past Chair of the Department for 20 years. Prior to becoming Chair in Edmonton, in 1992, he was a Career Scientist of the Ontario Ministry of Health at the University of Ottawa. From 2007-2008, he was Branch Chief of Ophthalmic Genetics and Visual Function at the National Eye Institute of the NIH. Dr. MacDonald completed residency training in Family Medicine at McGill University, Montreal, Ophthalmology residency training at the University of Ottawa and Clinical Genetics fellowship training at the University of Ottawa, Queen's University, Kingston and the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. He is an Editor Emeritus of the Canadian Journal of Ophthalmology and currently serves on the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Ophthalmology for Genetics.

Dr. MacDonald's areas of interest are inherited ocular disorders, in particular, maculopathies and choroideremia. In 2009, in recognition of his work in Canada to foster the development of academic Ophthalmology, he was elected as a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.

Clinical Interests

As a clinical geneticist and ophthalmologist, I am interested in the broad range of human disorders that affect vision. As the future will see an increasing number of trials for heritable ocular disorders, I am sincerely interested in developing the capacity for our healthcare system and research infrastructure to respond to the interests of patients and families to access these trials. Work in this area requires not only an array of dedicated clinical test equipment but also the staff to run the tests and analyze the data.

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Research

My laboratory is devoted to translational research on heritable ocular disorders. As part of pre-clinical research studies, we are focused on the characterization of the genetic basis of retinal disorders through molecular genetic techniques. Further, the laboratory is engaged in pre-clinical and clinical studies of ocular gene therapy.

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Teaching

I hold weekly ocular genetics clinics that engage residents (Ophthalmology and Medical Genetics and others) in direct patient contact. A structured clinic that includes a genetic counselor allows the student to appreciate the management of patients and families with heritable ocular traits, including investigation (imaging, electrophysiology, etc.), interpretation of results (including clinical genetic testing) and genetic counseling.

In the laboratory, graduate students generally take on projects of their interest but all related in some way to ocular genetics. Depending on the interest of students, I organise a graduate level course (3 credits) in ocular genetics with the assistance of some colleagues in Alberta Vision Net. The course has run for a number of years and includes, didactic sessions supplemented by discussion of current literature and provides a comprehensive overview of the subject.

At the annual meeting of the Canadian College of Medical Geneticists (2021), I received a Lifetime Achievement award. In the fall of 2021, I gave the Franceschetti Lecture to the International Society for Genetic Eye Disease and Retinoblastoma at their meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland.

OPHTH 601 - Ocular Genetics

This course provides a comprehensive overview of various aspects of eye genetics including both basic science studies and clinical conditions. Clinical case studies and their investigation will form part of the course. Offered in alternate years. Format includes didactic lectures supplemented by brief student presentations and guest speakers. Grades are assigned according to participation and a final exam. Prerequisite: Familiarity with medical genetics and ophthalmology and the consent of the Department.

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Browse more courses taught by Ian MacDonald

Mishra AV, Martens R, MacDonald IM

Ophthalmic Genet. 2024 February; 45 (1):108-111 10.1080/13816810.2023.2219737

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Birch DG, Cheetham JK, Daiger SP, Hoyng C, Kay C, MacDonald IM, Pennesi ME, Sullivan LS.

Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2023 June; 12 (6):5 10.1167/tvst.12.6.5

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Zhai Y, Xu M, Radziwon A, Dimopoulos IS, Crichton P, Mah R, MacLaren RE, Somani R, Tennant MT, MacDonald IM.

Am J Ophthalmol. 2023 April; 248 (April):145-156

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PAPP K.M., GRACIE S.K., MACDONALD I.M.

American Journal of Ophthalmology. 2022 June; 238 10.1016/j.ajo.2021.11.027

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Zhai Y., Benson M.D., MacDonald I.M.

Ophthalmic Genetics. 2022 January; 43 (1):134-136 10.1080/13816810.2021.1983848

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MacDonald I.M.

Ophthalmic Genetics. 2022 January; 43 (3):354-361 10.1080/13816810.2022.2025608

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Noel N.C.L., Allison W.T., MacDonald I.M., Hocking J.C.

Progress in Retinal and Eye Research. 2022 January; 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101096

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MacDonald I.M., Modeste D., MacPherson M.J.

Ophthalmology. 2021 November; 128 (11):1560 10.1016/j.ophtha.2021.03.034

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Doucette L.P., Noel N.C.L., Zhai Y., Xu M., Caluseriu O., Hoang S.C., Radziwon A.J., MacDonald I.M.

European Journal of Human Genetics. 2021 August; 29 (8):1171-1185 10.1038/s41431-021-00872-3

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Peturson A.M.C., Noel N.C.L., MacDonald I.M.

Ophthalmic Genetics. 2021 January; 42 (3):349-353 10.1080/13816810.2021.1894460

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Benson M.D., Plemel D.J.A., Freund P.R., Lewis J.R., Sass J.O., Bähr L., Gemperle-Britschgi C., Ferreira P., MacDonald I.M.

Ophthalmic Genetics. 2021 January; 42 (1):75-78 10.1080/13816810.2020.1827441

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Zhai Y., Oke S., Macdonald I.M.

Translational Vision Science and Technology. 2021 January; 10 (6) 10.1167/tvst.10.6.17

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Noel N.C.L., Macdonald I.M., Allison W.T.

Biomolecules. 2021 January; 11 (1):1-33 10.3390/biom11010078