Tariq Aslam is Professor Of Ophthalmology and Interface Technologies at the University of Manchester. He is a Consultant Ophthalmologist specialising in management of medical retinal disease, including diabetes,  macular degeneration and central serous chorioretinopathy
 
His research explores clinical ophthalmology and interfacing technologies, including image analysis,  artifical intelligence and device development.  His research has led to multiple technologies with clinical applications , various patents and a spin-out company developing medical software for social impact.

He is lead of the Manchester MSc course in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science and the Manchester undergraduate ocular disease course.  

Email: [email protected]

Tariq Aslam gained his first degree from Oxford University and subsequently trained as an eye surgeon in Manchester and Edinburgh. He is currently a  Reader at the University of Manchester and a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital. He specialises in medical retina, after having completed fellowship training for this at Moorfields Eye Hospital.

He has a doctorate (DM) from Oxford University which involved setting up clinical trials and assessing outcome measures. He has a more recent PhD from Heriot Watt University in interface technologies and computer programming for which he demonstrated ability to code in a number of higher level computer languages and was awarded the esteemed University MacFarlane prize as well as a Professorship at Heriot Watt. This second PhD in addition to his clinical training have afforded him capabilities of innovative and clinically relevant software programming, which have been applied to both device development and image processing algorithms.

His research explores many branches of ophthalmology, involving his clinical interests in retina as well as the general potential for computerised and technical enhancement of diagnosis and management of ophthalmic disease. He has around 100 peer reviewed publications, predominantly as lead author, a number of patents and is an investigator on multiple grants over the last 5 years in Manchester with involvement in commercial as well as with investigator lead studies.

He is Director of the Manchester Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science MSc course, Director of the Manchester undergraduate Ocular Disease course, Editor of “Eye News” and “Ophthalmology and Therapy “ and Associate Editor of “Acta Ophthalmologica”

 His research has led to formation of a spin-out medical software company and he has recently been awarded a prestigious Manchester University prize for social impact, which is his ultimate research goal.

I am currently leading on several research projects with colleagues at Manchester University including :

Novel mathematical modelling of wet Macular degeneration to find new treatment paradigms

Application of Machine vision and artifical intelligence to Ophthalmic imaging in children and adults

Development of Visual fields tests for children using computer games

Devices and designs for Mobile vision testing in macular degeneration and also children

Novel inhaler designs for children

Psychological impact of macular degeneration.

Further collaborations include with external centres for a multicentre randomised trial of laser treatment and with specialities outside of ophthalmology as part of European multicentre studies on dementia. 

A central aspect of my work has become the invention and development of clinical and technological devices and software , using skills in computer programming and electronics in translation of research findings to clinical solutions. I have three patent applications, multiple copyrights, a spin out company and collaborations with industry in several projects.

All these themes are focussed towards making social impact, an ultimate research goal.  

• Device Development
• Image Processing and analysis, Machine vision
• Measurement validity and reliability
• Computer Applications in Ophthalmology
• Psychological aspects of Clinical Ophthalmology

MB.Ch.B, FRCSEd(Ophth) , DIp.IT, MA(Oxon), DM (Oxon), Ph.D