Prof. Yalin Zheng
University of Liverpool, UK
Title: From Retina to Whole Body Insight: How AI and LLMs Are Transforming Ophthalmology
Abstract:
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming ophthalmology. This talk traces the field’s evolution from early deep learning to modern foundation models and large language models (LLMs), which enable powerful multi modal analysis and clinical decision support. I will highlight how vision transformers and generative AI are expanding retinal imaging beyond eye disease toward broader systemic health monitoring. Emerging multi modal oculomics models integrating retinal images with clinical and biomarker data are paving the way for precision medicine. I will also discuss how LLM driven agents may reshape clinical workflows and outline future research and translation pathways for responsible clinical adoption.
Biography:
Professor Yalin Zheng is Professor of AI in Healthcare at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. A computer scientist working at the interface of artificial intelligence and medicine, he specialises in the development of AI algorithms, biomedical image processing, and large scale data analysis to address clinically meaningful challenges.
Professor Zheng has published over 300 peer reviewed papers across leading medical, scientific, and engineering journals and major international conferences. He contributes to the research community through service as a reviewer for numerous funding agencies, scholarly journals, and major conferences, and by serving on several editorial boards.
He has secured over £20 million in research funding from major funders such as EU Horizon, EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, major charities including The Wellcome Trust and Fight for Sight, the British Council, the UK Department of Health, and multiple industry partners. Professor Zheng’s research has generated three granted patents, with three additional patents currently in the PCT phase. One of these technologies has been licensed by AI Sight Ltd for AI based diabetic retinopathy. His work exemplifies impactful, multidisciplinary research that enhances both the health and wealth of society in the UK and internationally, supported by extensive global partnerships.