
Adrian Au Laboratory
Ophthalmic Imaging, AI, and Retinal Genomics
Integrating AI, imaging, and genomics for curing retinal disease

Adrian Au, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
- Department of Ophthalmology
- Jules Stein Eye Institute
Dr. Adrian Au applies machine learning algorithms to ocular imaging modalities, including fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT), to extract and quantify retinal biomarkers associated with disease phenotypes. His research emphasizes the integration of these imaging-derived features with genomic datasets to elucidate the molecular and genetic underpinnings of retinal pathology.
Through the fusion of deep learning-based image analysis and genomic frameworks, Dr. Au seeks to advance our understanding of the biological mechanisms driving disease onset, progression, and therapeutic response. His work operates at the intersection of ophthalmology, computational biology, and precision medicine, with the aim of developing clinically translatable tools for personalized diagnostics and targeted interventions in retinal disease.
Research Focus Areas:
- Machine learning and deep learning for ocular imaging analysis
- Integration of imaging biomarkers with genomic data
- Computational approaches to understanding retinal disease mechanisms
- Development of AI-driven diagnostic and prognostic tools
- Precision medicine approaches for personalized retinal disease treatment
Lab Members
Undergraduate Students

Nicole Lui(she/her)
Undergraduate
Nicole reviews and grades Optical Coherence Tomography images from Age-related Macular Degeneration cohorts, documenting differences in structural features and disease severity. She identifies imaging characteristics that may define clinically significant AMD subgroups and evaluates whether these phenotypes are associated with specific genetic variants.

Shaurya Mahajan(he/him)
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Shaurya Mahajan studies optical coherence tomography (OCT) images to identify retinal biomarkers and characterize disease morphology in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and geographic atrophy.
Recent Publications
VITRECTOMY FOR PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC RETINOPATHY WITH ASTEROID HYALOSIS
Justin S. Yun, Erin NaPier, Hamid Hosseini, Adrian C. Au
Retina (2026)
View PublicationVKH-Like Syndrome in a Patient on Tofacitinib
Jessica H. Tran, Hamid Hosseini, Edmund Tsui, Adrian Au
Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases (2026)
View PublicationDifluprednate and Loratadine in the Treatment of Pachychoroid Disease Spectrum
Emile R. Vieta-Ferrer, Adrian Au, Jeeyun Ahn, Michael B. Gorin
Journal of Clinical & Translational Ophthalmology (2025)
View PublicationRetinal Ischemic Perivascular Lesions Are Associated With Stroke in Individuals With Atrial Fibrillation
Christine Y. Bakhoum, Adrian Au, Elodie Bousquet, Mitchelle Matesva, Maxwell B. Singer, Christina Jayaraj, et al.
Journal of the American Heart Association (2024)
View PublicationRetinal Ischemic Perivascular Lesions Are Associated With Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
Elodie Bousquet, Ahmad Santina, Adrian Au, Swathi Somisetty, Neda Abraham, Shilo Voichanski, et al.
American Journal of Ophthalmology (2024)
View PublicationOCT Grading System of Macular Infarction Predicts Vision in Participants With Central Retinal or Hemiretinal Vein Occlusion: A Secondary Analysis of SCORE2
Adrian Au, Michael Ip, Barbara A. Blodi, Ingrid U. Scott, Neal L. Oden, Paul C. Van Veldhuisen, David Sarraf
American Journal of Ophthalmology (2023)
View PublicationProgression of Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium Maculopathy in a Prospective Cohort
Swathi Somisetty, Ahmad Santina, Adrian Au, Veronica Romero-Morales, Elodie Bousquet, David Sarraf
American Journal of Ophthalmology (2023)
View PublicationPentosan Polysulfate Sodium-Associated Maculopathy: Early Detection Using OCT Angiography and Choriocapillaris Flow Deficit Analysis
Meira Fogel Levin, Ahmad Santina, Giulia Corradetti, Adrian Au, Anthony Lu, Neda Abraham, et al.
American Journal of Ophthalmology (2022)
View PublicationHenle Fiber Layer Hemorrhage in Macular Telangiectasia Type 2: Is Right Eye Dominance Coincidence or Consequence?
Adrian Au, JooYeon Jung, Mark W. Johnson, Caroline Baumal, Mark J. Daily, Julius E.S. Gomolin, et al.
American Journal of Ophthalmology (2022)
View PublicationAdvanced OCT Analysis of Biopsy-proven Vitreoretinal Lymphoma
FRANCESCO PICHI, ROSA DOLZ-MARCO, JASMINE H. FRANCIS, ADRIAN AU, JANET L. DAVIS, AMANI FAWZI, et al.
American Journal of Ophthalmology (2022)
View Publication