A new research initiative led by Monash University researchers, the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre (DHCRC), and Optain Health, will harness artificial intelligence (AI) and retinal imaging to transform the early detection of chronic diseases in Australia.
The research project is looking to develop a foundational AI model capable of detecting a wide range of systemic diseases – including cardiovascular (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) – from retinal images.
By applying advanced AI methods to analyse retinal images alongside linked health data from hundreds of thousands of participants, the research team aims to generate accurate, non-invasive screening tools to support earlier diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Chronic diseases such as CVD and CKD affect nearly half of Australians aged over 65, placing significant strain on individuals, families and the health system.
Clinical symptoms often appear late in the disease course, but the underlying biological processes begin much earlier – representing a critical window for preventive intervention. Existing tools for detecting these conditions are often insufficiently personalised, invasive, or too costly, to be widely used.
This research investigates an alternative approach: using the eye as a window to whole-body health. By applying oculomics – the science of detecting systemic disease biomarkers through the eye – the project seeks to enable earlier and more personalised detection of disease.
Traditionally, oculomics has relied on onerous manual analysis of large image datasets. Associate Professor Zongyuan Ge, from the AIM for Health Lab at Monash University's Faculty of Information Technology, said this project will instead apply the latest AI methods to de-identified, linked, longitudinal data spanning decades, building a multimodal foundational model designed to deliver more comprehensive systemic disease detection than traditional single-disease approaches.
"Research has shown that the retina provides a unique, non-invasive glimpse into the body's vascular and neural system," Associate Professor Ge said.
"We hypothesise that oculomics will help us develop rapid, non-invasive, cost-effective biomarkers to detect systemic diseases and predict future risks to prioritise treatment.
"In fact, the project promises to revolutionise systemic disease screening by providing a highly accurate and accessible diagnostic tool of oculomics."
Early detection is the foundation of long-term health. While several risk prevention tools for systemic diseases have been developed, their clinical use is limited due to a lack of precision, the need for invasive tests, and high costs.
Optain Health President, Dr Zachary Tan, said this presents an opportunity for AI-assisted retina models to identify patients at risk for systemic diseases early on, allowing for more timely interventions that can prevent or mitigate disease progression.
"Our goal is to develop a foundational AI model capable of detecting a broad range of systemic diseases, including cardiovascular and chronic kidney disease, all from a simple retinal image," Dr Tan said.
"Early detection of these conditions can empower patients to take greater control of their own health, enabling earlier intervention, and helping shift healthcare towards prevention rather than treatment."
Optain Health CEO Mr Jeff Dunkel said the project highlights the strength of Australia's research ecosystem – uniting clinical expertise, advanced AI research, and translational capability to deliver innovations that improve patient care on a global scale.
DHCRC CEO Annette Schmiede said the project has the potential to enhance the cost-effectiveness of healthcare, ensuring that each health dollar is spent wisely and efficiently.
"By integrating ocular imaging with AI, the project tailors healthcare to individual needs, allowing for early detection of chronic diseases which are becoming an increasing health and economic burden as our population ages," Ms Schmiede said.
"Innovative solutions like this that enable early detection and intervention, effectively deliver better health outcomes and ultimately lower health care costs."
About Digital Health CRC
Digital Health CRC Limited connects government, academia and industry to accelerate the implementation and translation of evidence-based digital health technologies that solve the most pressing healthcare challenges. We are co-funded through the Commonwealth Government's Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program, and by our Participant organisations.
About Optain
Optain transforms preventive health with AI-enabled software and hardware that deliver real-time, non-invasive detection of eye and systemic conditions. Its portable robotic retinal camera, AI, and teleophthalmology service give clinicians an affordable point-of-care tool to close care gaps, reduce avoidable costs, and improve patient outcomes.
