Dr. Allan Slomovic will be setting up a major eye-related research program at Tel Aviv University due to a donation of $110,000 from retired chartered accountant, Meyer Zeifman.

Slomovic, a world renowned researcher, is the research director of the corneal/external disease service at Toronto Western Hospital, University Health Network. He is also president of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society and immediate past chairman of the Canadian Cornea Society.

He is an associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Toronto. Among his many awards, Aish Toronto recently honoured him at a Heritage of Healing gala dinner.

Slomovic developed the hospital’s new cornea replacement program that is part of his plan to make the University Health Network the country’s go-to ocular regenerative program.

 “International co-operation is a priority for Tel Aviv University,” says Stephen Adler, executive director of Canadian Friends of Tel Aviv University.

“A particular emphasis is placed on bringing basic research discoveries to applied and clinical stages. The Zeifman donation allows the Tel Aviv University to continue building on its already strong relationship with University of Toronto.”

The Meyer Zeifman Cornea and Stem Cell Research Project will commence in Israel in the 2014-2015 academic year.

 “Ocular stem cell disease is a serious ocular condition that often results in blindness and severe pain, usually affecting younger individuals in the prime of their lives,” says Slomovic.

 “It can have devastating effects on the patient and also on the lives of their loved ones. Unfortunately, traditional ophthalmic treatments, such as corneal transplantation, are not successful in this group of patients.

 “In many circumstances ocular stem cell transplantation offers them the only hope of getting their lives back.”

He noted that at both Tel Aviv University and the University of Toronto are at the forefront of new and innovative corneal research treatment.

 “This important and impactful donation made by Meyer Zeifman, supporting stem cell research at both universities, will allow for collaboration and the potential for bringing research from the laboratory to the bedside, offering hope for patients suffering with ocular stem cell disease.”  

TAU has more than 40 research groups from various aspects of regenerative medicine and 30 groups focusing on diverse areas of cell and developmental biology that have a direct bearing on regenerative medicine.

Zeifman told The CJN that he suffered for many years with pain and swelling in his eyes. While on a trip to Israel, after several painful episodes with his eyes, an Israeli ophthalmologist in Jerusalem diagnosed his problem.

 “For many years I wanted to thank Israel for saving my sight and I searched for a project,” says Zeifman.

 “It was my friend, Beverley Burdeyney, a community volunteer and fundraiser who introduced me to Dr. Slomovic and the shidduch was made for the project in Israel.”

Burdeyney said that Zeifman’s donation “will kickstart awareness of both young and old who suffer from eye related diseases and issues.”

She added that a campaign has been created to raise additional money for a $250,000 eye research project at the university.