LA JOLLA, Calif. — Topcon Healthcare announced Daniela Ferrara, MD, PhD, has been named Chief Medical Officer.
In this role, Dr. Ferrara will lead the company’s clinical and medical strategy, guiding the development and implementation of solutions that improve the clinical outcomes of patients. This work is directly related to the advancement of the company’s Healthcare from the Eye initiative — a connected clinical care model that uses artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ocular imaging or functional data to detect and manage ocular and systemic diseases.
“Daniela is a world-renowned physician-scientist with a remarkable track record of advancing ophthalmic innovation through rigorous clinical research, cross-sector leadership and global collaboration,” said Ali Tafreshi, CEO & President of Topcon Healthcare, Inc. “Her clinical insight and deep understanding of drug and device development anchored on medical imaging make her uniquely suited to guide the next generation of AI-powered solutions for early disease detection and the potential for more comprehensive, holistic clinical care.
Dr. Ferrara’s AI Experience
Dr. Ferrara joins Topcon Healthcare from Genentech, where she most recently served as Principal Medical Director in Ophthalmology Product Development. In that role, she led the integration of AI-powered retinal imaging analysis into clinical trials for biotech and pharma. Over her distinguished career, she has contributed to the development of transformative retinal therapies and has held leadership roles spanning clinical development, personalized health care and global strategic initiatives. In addition to her industry experience, she holds an academic appointment as Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Tufts University School of Medicine.
“I am honored to join Topcon Healthcare at such a pivotal moment,” said Dr. Ferrara. “The opportunity to combine my scientific passion for retinal imaging with a company that is redefining health care through digital innovation is deeply meaningful. I look forward to collaborating with the talented team at Topcon Healthcare to bring data-driven, patient-centered solutions to clinicians and patients worldwide. While AI is already transforming clinical research in ophthalmology and other fields of medicine, there is still so much to be done to improve the clinical outcomes of patients at risk for visual threatening or serious systemic conditions, including cardiovascular, metabolic or neurologic diseases.”
The Future of Eye Care
Dr. Ferrara holds an MD from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a PhD in Visual Sciences from the University of São Paulo. She has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, served on editorial boards of leading journals and held committee roles in global ophthalmic societies.
With Dr. Ferrara’s appointment, Topcon Healthcare reaffirms its commitment to advancing a clinically grounded, data-driven scientific approach to digital health. Her leadership will help shape a future where retinal imaging becomes a first-line tool not only for eye care, but also for screening and managing complex systemic diseases — making Healthcare from the Eye a global standard in preventive care.
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