Leonard Levin

Leonard Levin is a Professor at the Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, and an Investigator at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC). As a physician-scientist at the Montreal Neurological Institute (The Neuro), he bridges clinical practice with cutting-edge research in optic nerve diseases and neuroprotection.

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s in Applied Mathematics, Harvard University (magna cum laude)
  • MD via Harvard/MIT joint Health Science program
  • PhD in Neurobiology, Harvard University (focusing on multiple sclerosis)

His research focuses on retinal ganglion cell death mechanisms in optic neuropathies, emphasizing axonal degeneration, redox processes, and pharmacological neuroprotection. He has pioneered studies on phosphine-borane complexes and their role in delaying neuronal apoptosis.

Recent publications highlight his work in translational research for eye diseases, including regenerative therapies, computational modeling, and oxidative stress in glaucoma. His studies span molecular biology, animal models, and clinical trials like QPI-1007 for ischemic optic neuropathy.

• Major research themes:
  • Molecular mechanisms of axonal degeneration
  • Neuroprotective drug development
  • Computational modeling of drug properties
  • Translational clinical trial design
  • Role of superoxide and redox signaling
  • Killam Institution affiliation