Jane W. Chan

Jane W. Chan, MD is Professor of Ophthalmology and Neurology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) David Geffen School of Medicine and serves as a physician-scientist at the Doheny Eye Center. Board-certified in neurology, she is internationally recognized for her expertise in neuro-ophthalmology and optic-nerve disorders.

Education & Training

• MD, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, 1990
• Internship, Internal Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 1992
• Residency, Neurology, UC Davis Medical Center, 1995
• Fellowship, Neuro-Ophthalmology, UC San Francisco, 1996
• Board Certification, Neurology, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 1997

Research Focus

Dr. Chan’s laboratory leverages cutting-edge multi-modal retinal imaging, including optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A), to uncover cellular and molecular histopathology of the neuro-retina. By correlating retinal microvascular and structural changes with cerebrospinal fluid and plasma biomarkers, her team is developing AI-driven algorithms to stage pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease and identify presymptomatic candidates for preventive therapies. Parallel investigations extend these discoveries to age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma, positioning these ocular diseases on a continuum of neurodegeneration with Alzheimer’s disease.

Publication Trends

Across her >100 peer-reviewed articles, a clear trajectory emerges: early work established clinical phenotypes of optic neuropathies, followed by translational studies integrating retinal imaging biomarkers with molecular pathways in neurodegeneration. Since 2020, the portfolio has concentrated on pre-symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease, with simultaneous exploration of mitochondrial optic neuropathies and therapeutic modulation of neuronal circuitry.

Scientific Honors

• Fellow, American Academy of Neurology
• Fellow, North American Neuro-Ophthalmology Society
• America’s Top Doctors recognition
• Best Doctors recognition

Clinical & Academic Leadership

Dr. Chan is a sought-after lecturer at national and international venues and holds editorial board positions in leading ophthalmology and neurology journals. She directs clinical trials at the Doheny Eye Center examining longitudinal retinal imaging biomarkers in pre-clinical Alzheimer’s cohorts versus matched controls, funded by NIH and private foundations.

Laboratory & Clinical Teams

She leads a multidisciplinary team of neuro-ophthalmologists, retinal imaging scientists, bioinformaticians, and AI engineers within the Doheny Eye Center/UCLA Health system. The group operates advanced imaging suites in Pasadena and Fountain Valley, California, and collaborates closely with the UCLA Alzheimer’s and Neurodegeneration Program.