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Innovative Faculty Research

Coronavirus Infection of the Ocular Mucosa to
Model Infection and Systemic Immunity.
SEAMO COVID Innovation Fund ($144,913)

Ophthalmology-led: Drs. ten Hove, Baxter, Farmer, and Rullo.
Queen’s collaborators: Drs. Petkovich, Winterborn, and Colpitts.
Modeling coronavirus infection for successful therapeutic
and vaccine development requires control of several vari-
ables that are difficult to measure in an in vitro culture sys-
tem or whole animal models. Most models lack the ability to
easily sample and measure the immune responses of a cel-
lular virus infection. The periocular mucosal surface, which is
amongst the most accessible and antigenically exposed mucosal
surfaces of the human body, is often overlooked as a model of vi-
ral infection. We intend to validate the use of the ocular mucosal
to model viral infections, and to examine the efficacy of an ocular
mucosa vaccination to generate systemic immunity against coro-
naviruses.
Combating severe acute-respiratory illnesses caused by novel
coronaviruses requires innovative, novel, and ‘outside the box’
thinking. Generating mucosal immunity by inoculating the ocular
mucosa is a novel disruptive approach of generating an effective
anti-viral response. Ocular vaccination is a common place in vet-
erinary medicine, used against Newcastle disease virus in chick-
ens and cows. When ocular vaccinations are available, the ocular
surface provides a simple and economic approach to immunizing
the world’s population.

The Artistry of Medicine: Improving Medical Student Clinical Skills
Through Art Observation and Techniques.

Ophthalmology-led: Drs. Law & Curtis.
Queen’s Collaborators: Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Office of Professional Development and Educational Scholarship,
Department of Art History and Art Conservation.
In collaboration with the Agnes Etherington Art Centre and the model drawing, visual understanding through clay sculpting,
Office of Professional Development and Educational Scholarship, environmental and self-awareness with guided meditation, and
Drs. Christine Law and Rachel Curtis launched a study this spring directed sculpture and painting observation to develop artful
that compared different approaches to art observation training thinking routines and visual thinking strategies.
and their impact on clinical observation skills in first year Queen’s Commendable problem-solving and adaptability of the Agnes
medical students. As part of the pilot project, participants Etherington art experts allowed us to conclude our fourth
were invited to attend four different art-based observation and final class through a virtual platform due to COVID-19
sessions using visual thinking strategies (VTS) and artful thinking restrictions, with the help of breakout rooms to enable more
frameworks, designed and delivered by expert staff from the intimate discussions. This project builds on previous studies in the
Agnes Etherington Art Centre.
literature investigating the relationship between art observation
At the beginning and end of each two-hour session, participants and improved clinical observation skills, but we have endeavored
were asked to describe both art and clinical images to the best to define what type of sessions are the most effective by offering
of their ability. Although unified in a general theme, each session four unique but related art-observation experiences. The content
was distinct, delving into visual skills development through nude

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