Remembering Dr. Stuart Coupland

Featured image: Photo from ARVO 2009. Standing from left to right: Bruce Doran, Natalie Doran, Stuart Coupland, Anne Doran, Richard Robson, John O’Brien

It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dr. Stuart Coupland, a long-time advisor to Diagnosys and a friend to all of us. Stuart was a brilliant researcher and teacher in the field of visual electrophysiology and a trusted partner whose impact on our company has been felt since our earliest days. 

Stuart was one of the early adopters of the original Diagnosys E1 system, which introduced the very first electroretinography (ERG) handheld stimulator produced by Diagnosys called the ColorBurst. His early trust in our technology and his thoughtful feedback laid the groundwork for what would become decades of collaboration. 

Over the years, Stuart provided critical validation testing of our E2 and E3 consoles and helped shape the development of our systems from the user’s perspective. His clinic also supplied the patient data that became the foundation of Diagnosys’ early full field ERG and multifocal ERG normative databases, relied upon by clinicians worldwide. Long before our dedicated customer support team was formed in 2013, Stuart trained many of our customers himself, bringing both expertise and generosity of time directly to the field. 

Beyond his role with Diagnosys, Stuart’s career speaks for itself. A prolific researcher and educator, he held academic appointments at Concordia University, University of Calgary, and the University of Ottawa, where he directed the Structural and Functional Imaging Unit at the Eye Institute. His work advanced the understanding of macular diseases, retinal degeneration, and gene therapy approaches to retinal disease. He was as passionate about mentoring students as he was about discovery, and his joy in explaining the details of his research was infectious. Among his most enduring legacies is a host of superbly trained electrophysiologists and technicians. 

At Diagnosys, we are grateful for the decades of partnership and friendship we shared with Stuart. His achievements in visual electrophysiology were foundational to our company and the work we continue to do every day. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched. 

He will be deeply missed and long remembered.