Fundus image. Credit: Prof Pearse Keane

Moorfields Eye Hospital, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Topcon Healthcare have launched a medical technology company, Cascader Ltd, which aims to transform the detection and management of eye disease through artificial intelligence (AI).

Cascader will use advanced retinal imaging to uncover insights into systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration and dementia, said a Moorfields statement. The new company is uniquely positioned at the intersection of clinical excellence, academic leadership and technological innovation, said Professor Pearse Keane, consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields, professor of artificial medical intelligence at UCL and Cascader’s chief medical advisor and co-founder. “We are building on more than a decade of research into AI and oculomics – fields in which we’ve been proud to lead globally – and are now focused on delivering those discoveries into everyday clinical care."

Cascader’s initial focus will be on macular diseases, but its long-term mission is to develop a portfolio of AI tools to support earlier and more accurate detection of disease across the full spectrum of eyecare. Led by Moorfields, the company’s work will be supported by the world’s largest ophthalmic imaging bioresource – Insight Health Data Research Hub’s more than 35 million retinal images, all linked to clinical metadata.