Mark Richard Lesk

Mark Richard Lesk is a Full Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal. He conducts research at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Center, specifically within the unit focused on pathophysiological mechanisms of the eye. His work bridges clinical ophthalmology with advanced research in ocular biomechanics and glaucoma pathophysiology.

Dr. Lesk's research interests primarily focus on glaucoma, ocular biomechanics, and ocular rigidity. He investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms of the eye, particularly how vascular and biomechanical factors contribute to glaucoma progression. His work extends to space-related neuro-ocular syndrome, examining how microgravity affects ocular structures. He employs advanced imaging techniques like Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to study pulsatile optic nerve head deformation and develop novel clinical measurements of ocular properties.

Analysis of Dr. Lesk's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on ocular rigidity as a novel risk factor in glaucoma and space-related vision disorders. His research increasingly incorporates advanced imaging techniques and biomechanical modeling to understand eye physiology. There's a clear progression from basic vascular studies to more sophisticated biomechanical investigations, with recent work focusing on space flight applications and stem cell therapies for glaucoma.

Dr. Lesk has supervised numerous doctoral students whose research has advanced understanding in glaucoma therapy, ocular rigidity, and stem cell applications. His major research grants span topics including ocular biomechanics as glaucoma risk factors (2021-2028), ocular rigidity in space flight (2019-2026), mesenchymal stromal cell therapies for glaucoma (2015-2022), and novel OCT-based measurements of ocular elasticity (2014-2020). Funded by agencies including CIHR, Canadian Space Agency, and FRQS, these projects demonstrate his leadership in translational ophthalmic research.

Dr. Lesk leads the research unit on pathophysiological mechanisms of the eye at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, collaborating with engineers, physicists, and clinicians. His work with Santiago Costantino on ocular biomechanics represents a significant interdisciplinary effort combining ophthalmology with engineering principles. The research team has developed innovative devices for measuring ocular properties and investigating the relationship between biomechanics and glaucoma progression.