Dr Arun J. Thirunavukarasu

Dr Arun J.
Thirunavukarasu

MA MB BChir

I am an NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Ophthalmology in North London, working as a registrar at The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, and as an Honorary Research Fellow at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine as well as at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I also serve as the 'AI & Oculomics' Section Editor at Eye News, 'Diagnostics and Supporting Devices' Section Editor at PLOS Digital Health, Academic Editor at PLOS Medicine, Senior Collaborator at the Global Burden of Disease Study, and Neuroscience Supervisor for medical students at Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. In addition, I am a current Edington Fellow at the Prosperity Institute. My research interests include clinical trials, digital innovation and how these converge to improve healthcare--particularly in glaucoma and ophthalmology more broadly.

Previously, I was an Academic Foundation Doctor and Clinical Research Fellow at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University of Oxford, respectively. I read medicine with Distinction and neuroscience with Double-First Class Honours at the University of Cambridge, graduating as a Scholar of Corpus Christi College. I have also undertaken the Rising Leader Fellowship at the Aspen Institute UK.

My work has been cited over 10,000 times in academic articles, patents, and international policy documents. I have won several academic prizes for my work, including awards from the Royal Society of Medicine, Royal College of Ophthalmologists, and Lord Mayor of London. My work has been featured by the Financial Times, Bloomberg News, BBC News, Der Spiegel, and others.

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Presentations & Outreach

Upcoming

  • 15 Nov 2026 AI in Ophthalmology
    Eye Views Podcast · online
  • 10 Nov 2026 Safety of intravitreal corticosteroid treatment in primary open-angle glaucoma
    UKEGS 2026 · Manchester

Recent

  • 1 Sep 2026 How to conduct a systematic review
    Research Innovation Day · Cambridge
  • 22 Jul 2026 AI in global eye surgery
    GASOC UK Innovation Working Group · online
  • 3 Jul 2026 Prize-winner follow-up
    RSM Modern Ophthalmology Conference · London
  • 1 Jun 2026 Indications and precautions for intravitreal corticosteroid treatment in glaucoma patients: A systematic review
    European Glaucoma Society Congress · Brussels
  • 24 Apr 2026 Progress and potential of generative artificial intelligence in medicine
    University of Birmingham · Birmingham
  • 25 Jan 2026 Generative artificial intelligence in ophthalmology
    UCL Ophthalmology Specialty Day · London

Research highlights

  • Thirunavukarasu AJ, Mahmood S, Malem A, et al. Large language models approach expert-level clinical knowledge and reasoning in ophthalmology. PLOS Digital Health. 2024;3:e0000341. doi: 10.1371/journal.pdig.0000341
  • Ke Y, Jin L, Ong JCL, Thirunavukarasu AJ, et al. AI-induced never-skilling in medical education. Nature Medicine. 2026. doi: 10.1038/s41591-026-04438-y
  • Thirunavukarasu AJ, Ting DSJ, Elangovan K, et al. Large language models in medicine. Nature Medicine. 2023;29:1930–40. doi: 10.1038/s41591-023-02448-8
  • Thirunavukarasu AJ, Ross AC, Gilbert RM. Vitamin A, systemic T-cells, and the eye: Focus on degenerative retinal disease. Frontiers in Nutrition. 2022;9:914457. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.914457
  • Teo ZL, Thirunavukarasu AJ, Elangovan K, Cheng H, et al. Generative artificial intelligence in medicine. Nature Medicine. 2025;31:3270–3282. doi: 10.1038/s41591-025-03983-2
  • Huo B, Thirunavukarasu AJ, Collins GS, et al. Reporting guidelines for chatbot health advice studies: explanation and elaboration for CHART. BMJ. 2024;390:e083305. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2024-083305
  • Huo B, Boyle A, Marfo N, et al. Large Language Models for Chatbot Health Advice Studies: A Systematic Review. JAMA Network Open. 2025;8:e2457879. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.57879
  • Ng FYC, Thirunavukarasu AJ, Cheng H, et al. Artificial intelligence education: An evidence-based medicine approach for consumers, translators, and developers. Cell Reports Medicine. 2023;4:101230. doi: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101230
  • Tan TF, Thirunavukarasu AJ, Jin L, et al. AI and digital health in global eye health. The Lancet Global Health. 2023;11:e1432–43. doi: 10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00323-6
  • Ong JCL, Ning Y, Collins GS, et al. International partnership for governing generative artificial intelligence models in medicine. Nature Medicine. 2025;31:2836–2839. doi: 10.1038/s41591-025-03787-4
  • Thirunavukarasu AJ, Hassan R, Mahmood S, et al. Trialling a Large Language Model (ChatGPT) in General Practice. JMIR Medical Education. 2023;9:e46599. doi: 10.2196/46599
  • Ning Y, Ma Y, Liu M, Collins GS, Thirunavukarasu AJ et al. Ethical principles and considerations in health AI. Patterns. 2026;7:101662. doi: 10.1016/j.patter.2026.101662
  • Huo B, Collins GS, Chartash A, Thirunavukarasu AJ et al. Reporting Guideline for Chatbot Health Advice Studies: The CHART Statement. JAMA Network Open. 2025;8:e2530220. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.30220
  • Thirunavukarasu AJ, Jain N, Yu HCY, et al. Semi-automated screening reveals patients with glaucoma-induced blindness missing out on social support. British Journal of Ophthalmology. 2025;109:1126–1131. doi: 10.1136/bjo-2024-326745
Full publication list →

Awards & Prizes

Grants & Funding