Moorfields Eye Hospital, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology and Topcon Partner to Launch New Medical Technology Company
Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (IoO), and Topcon Healthcare announced the launch of Cascader Limited, a new medical technology company that aims to transform the detection and management of eye disease through artificial intelligence (AI). Cascader builds on the growing field of Oculomics—the use of advanced retinal imaging to uncover insights into systemic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and dementia.
Cascader represents a strategic partnership between world-leading academic and clinical institutions and a global healthcare technology provider. According to Topcon, the company combines the pioneering AI research and translational expertise of Moorfields and UCL IoO with the technical capabilities and international reach of Topcon Healthcare, a provider of ophthalmic imaging systems used in hospitals and community clinics around the world. UCL Business (UCLB), the commercialization company for UCL and its partner hospitals, was also instrumental in the set-up of the new venture.
Headquartered in London, Cascader is focused on accelerating the translation of cutting-edge AI from research into real-world clinical tools - so that novel diagnostic technologies can reach patients faster.
Its initial focus will be on macular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This builds on the work led by Moorfields and UCL IoO, including the 2016 collaboration with Google DeepMind and the development of RETFound, the first foundation model in ophthalmology, published in Nature in 2023.
Cascader’s long-term mission is to develop a portfolio of AI tools to support earlier and more accurate detection of disease across the full spectrum of eye care—from high-street optometry to hospital-based specialist clinics—and to further advance Oculomics as a foundation for precision medicine.
Cascader will be supported by the INSIGHT Health Data Research Hub, the world’s largest ophthalmic imaging bioresource, led by Moorfields. INSIGHT comprises over 35 million retinal images linked to clinical metadata and enables secure, anonymised data access for approved researchers - supported by advanced AI infrastructure, curation services, and active patient involvement.
"Topcon is thrilled to partner with Moorfields and the UCL Institute of Ophthalmology on this groundbreaking initiative. Cascader reflects our shared vision of how AI and ocular data can reshape eyecare and enable new frontiers in precision medicine," Ali Tafreshi, Chief Executive Officer, Topcon Healthcare, said in a company news release. "This collaboration supports the broader mission of connecting ocular data to better health outcomes - both within eyecare and beyond."
“UCLB is delighted to have played a role in the establishment in this new company alongside Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Topcon Inc.," said Mark Fisher, Associate Director at UCLB. "Partnering with industrial leaders in the new area of oculomics should accelerate routes to market for AI technologies and break down the barriers of AI applications in healthcare. It exemplifies the benefits of close relationships between academics and clinicians in creating technologies that will bring major benefits to patients as a result of earlier diagnosis in a range of diseases.”