Augusto Azuara-Blanco

I am a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology.   My clinical activity takes place at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust and is mainly dedicated to patients with glaucoma.  I have surgical expertise on complex glaucomas and cataract. 

My academic career at the Centre fof Public Health (Health Services Research Group) is focused in trying to improve eye care and investigating the effectiveness, safety and efficiency of new technologies for eye diseases (e.g., treatments, diagnostic tests, models of eye care).  I have expertise in primary and secondary research methodology.   I am Chief Investigator of several trials, including EAGLE, an international multicentre RCT comparing primary lens extraction versus laser iridotomy in patients with angle-closure glaucoma; GATE, an UK-based multicentre diagnostic study evaluating automated imaging technologies in glaucoma; and CHAMP-UK, a multicentre randomised trial evaluating low dose atropine eye drops for children with myopia.   I am co-applicant of several UK-based trials: TAGS and GLAURIOUS (on glaucoma), DIAMONDS and EMERALD (on diabetic retinopathy), EDNA and MIRROR (on age-related macular degeneration).  I have received as CI or co-applicant over £12m of research funds from MRC, NIHR-EME, NIHR-HTA, Horizon 2020, and charities.   I have published over 220 peer-reviewed papers, over 20 book chapters, and edited three books.   My work has been cited over 5000 times and my current Scopus h-index is 41. 

Leadership positions: member of the NIHR-HTA prioritisation committee (from 2019); member of the Executive Commitee of the European Glaucoma Society (2016-2020);  Lead Editor of the European Glaucoma Society Guidelines (5th edition, 2020);  Lead of the European Glaucoma Society Outcomes Committee;  member of the 2017 NICE glaucoma guidelines; 2012 Chair of the UK & Eire Glaucoma Society;  member of the Editorial Board of several specialist journals, including the Cochrane Eye and Vision Group, and Journal of Glaucoma.  Examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Past member of the Scientific Committee of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists.    Past lead of the CCRN-NIHR (Scotland 2010-2012).  

Special honours:  American Academy of Ophthalmology achievement award (2008); honorary member of the Italian Glaucoma Society; King James IV Professorship by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (2019); American Academy of Ophthalmology Secretariat Award (2020)