Dr. Kiran Kumar Vupparaboina is a Research Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. With over a decade of experience in biomedical image processing, artificial intelligence, and medical imaging, Dr. Vupparaboina has made significant contributions to the field of ophthalmology. His expertise lies in developing AI-driven diagnostic tools for early detection and progression prediction of retinal diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD), through the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging.
Dr. Vupparaboina has been closely working with clinicians and healthcare professionals to build quantitative imaging and image analysis solutions that enable more effective screening, treatment planning, and disease management. His work has been published in over 70 engineering and clinical research papers, and he has received competitive funding, including the prestigious Hillman Challenge Grant.
In addition to his academic research, Dr. Vupparaboina is the co-founder of Netramind Innovations, a company focused on commercializing AI-based solutions for personalized eye care. His mission is to improve patient outcomes and revolutionize ophthalmic diagnostics through cutting-edge technology and collaboration with industry leaders.
Dr. Kiran Vupparaboina's research is centered on leveraging artificial intelligence and medical imaging technologies to advance the early diagnosis and treatment of retinal diseases. His current work at the University of Pittsburgh focuses on two main areas:
1. Digital Twin of the Eye: This project aims to develop AI-based predictive analysis tools using longitudinal multimodal data, including patient vitals, demographics, and social determinants of health (SDoH). Dr. Vupparaboina and his team have created a centralized data management system that enables clinicians and researchers to access and analyze diverse datasets through a single interface. These efforts are geared toward improving patient-specific diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment outcomes, particularly for retinal conditions like AMD.
2. Choroid Analysis and Research (CAR) Lab: As part of the CAR Lab, Dr. Vupparaboina focuses on choroidal biomarkers, which are next-level indicators for early detection of retinal diseases. His team has developed AI tools for quantifying choroidal thickness and structure from OCT images, which have been widely used in clinical studies. These tools aim to improve the understanding of choroid-related diseases and provide clinicians with actionable insights for early intervention.