Dr. Pradeep Venkatesh

Pradeep Venkatesh

MBBS [BMC, Bangalore], MD [AIIMS, New Delhi], DNB [NBE], MBA [BITS-Pilani]

Professor, Retina and uvea services,

Dr. RP Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences,

All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

 

Specialist in the field of medical and surgical retina, and intraocular inflammation [uveitis], since 1995, with a keen interest in understanding the pathogenesis of diseases, evidence based approaches, retinochoroidal imaging and data analytics, improving safety of interventions, exploring avenues and impact of newer technologies [including drug designing and delivery], cost-effectivity and outcome analysis, and resident and human resources training. Experience of participating, as principal investigator and co-investigator investigator, in over twenty five multicentric, international studies [including P-CARRS-Brain study, FOCUS, Google-ARDA, Advance-AdRem, Retisert, FAME, VIEW2, Posurdex, Brimo, Sakura, Peachtree, Magnolia, studies]. Published about three hundred PubMed indexed manuscripts with H-index of 37 [google scholar], written four books [including handbook of vitreoretinal surgery, 2022], edited two other books [including Eye in systemic disorders and Retinal imaging], four CME booklets [including lasers in ophthalmology, uveitis, endophthalmitis, diabetic retinopathy], forty-five book chapters and have delivered talks in a modest number of conferences and meetings, including at the National Eye Institute [NEI], Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Am associated with the editorial boards of the following journals- EyeOpen, Ophthalmology and Therapy, Advances in Therapy, and National Medical journal of India [NMJI], the last three being PubMed indexed. Have played the role of associate editor [Retina], Indian Journal of Ophthalmology, and have been a reviewer for over thirty PubMed indexed journals.

Some novel approaches described for the first time have been incorporated into Oxford handbook of Ophthalmology [posterior subtenon injection], widely accepted and practiced [endoillumination/ chandelier assisted scleral buckling surgery; endoillumination assisted FNAC], clinical trials and wider evaluation initiated [role of stem cells in ischemic central retinal vein occlusion, selfie fundus imaging etc.].

Research collaborations include those with faculty/ researchers at Doheny Eye Institute, University of Padova [Italy], Emory University, IIT-Delhi, IIT-Kanpur, and Wadhwani-AI. Have been a member of ICMR-DHR GRADE Guidelines Development Group on type 2 diabetes mellitus, the NTEP [National TB Elimination Programme]-Cochrane review committee on Extrapulmonary tuberculosis, ICMR- Diabetes of the young registry, DBT project review committee, DBT- Indo-US collaborative research submissions review committee, ICMR-Standard treatment protocol development guidelines on diabetic retinopathy, ICMR-stem cell guidelines committee, Institute Pan-AIIMS collaboration committee, and Institute [Ministry of Education] Centre of Excellence for AI in Healthcare committee. Have played the role of Principal investigator for development of AI model for diabetic retinopathy screening, as part of the Ministry of Health-AIIMS initiative. Recently, initiated setting up of the Retinomics facility at the Centre. Interdepartmental collaborations include those with Department of Endocrinology, Department of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Physiology, Department of Anatomy, Department of Oncology [IRCH], Department of Nephrology, Department of Pathology, Nursing college, Department of Gastroenterology, and Department of Medicine.

Initiated training of nursing staff at the Nursing college [AIIMS, New Delhi] and other AIIMS nursing staff [virtual] in 2024, for screening, detection and grading of fundus images for diabetic retinopathy. Have been one of the 7 National coordinators for PHFI [Public Health Foundation of India] initiative for training of Physicians in the field of diabetic retinopathy. Have been chairman for development of course curriculum for National Board of Examination [NBE] fellowship in vitreoretinal surgery and also the coordinator for the planning and implementation of weekly classes for this FNB-VR fellowship degree.

Have been certified for performing fundus photography, fundus fluorescein angiography, and optical coherence tomography from fundus imaging centres at University hospitals, Cleveland [REDIARC], Duke university, and University of Wisconsin and have obtained training in the capture and grading of lens opacities [LOCS III system] from University of Parma [Italy]. As a member of the Indo-US collaboration on Eye Research, at its inception, have delivered talks at the National Eye Institute [Bethesda, Maryland]. I have obtained certifications from International universities [Harvard, Stanford, U Penn-Wharton, Johns Hopkins, University of Maryland, University of Cape Town, etc.] on varied topics such as AI in healthcare, Improving global health, Genomic technologies, Business of healthcare, Health informatics, Systematic review and meta-analysis, Clinical trials, Management fundamentals, Healthcare innovation, Economics of Healthcare delivery, and from National agencies [IIPH, NPTEL, FICCI] on Research methodology, Fundamentals of research, and Intellectual property rights. Have completed a full two year MBA program in Health and Hospital systems management, from BITS-Pilani.