Augusto Azuara-Blanco

Augusto Azuara-Blanco is a Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology at Queen's University Belfast (QUB), affiliated with the Centre for Public Health within the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences. His clinical expertise focuses on complex glaucoma and cataract surgeries at the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust. Academically, he leads research on improving eye health through clinical trials and innovative technologies, emphasizing evidence-based methodologies.

Research Leadership:

• Chief Investigator of major trials: EAGLE (glaucoma treatment), GATE (glaucoma diagnosis), CHAMP-UK (myopia), and GRIP (ocular hypertension risk prediction)
• Co-Chief Investigator of the i-TRAC glaucoma home monitoring study
• Co-applicant in global initiatives like CLEVER (vision exams in low-income countries) and ENGINE (vision and safety in LMICs)

Research Impact: Over £18m in research funding secured, 250+ peer-reviewed publications, and an h-index of 50. His work is cited over 8,000 times and ranked among top glaucoma research globally.

Leadership Roles:

• Chair of NI Clinical Trials Unit Advisory Committee and NIHR CRN Glaucoma Group
• Former Chair of the European Glaucoma Society’s Scientific Committee (2021–2023)
• Editor of the European Glaucoma Society Guidelines (5th ed., 2020)

Awards:

• King James IV Professorship (2020)
• Walter Wright Lecture (2023)
• American Glaucoma Society Top 100 Paper Recognition (2022)

Advocacy & Policy: Contributes to WHO glaucoma intervention guidelines, NICE committees, and global health initiatives addressing vision care equity in LMICs.