Ophthalmic Imaging and OCT Group

Our research group focuses on cutting-edge imaging technologies for macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, eye tumors, digital realities (DR) and artificial intelligence (AI).  Our ambitious research program develops methods for imaging the human eye, with an emphasis on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multi-photon laser microscopy.

We will clinically validate two new laser microscopes, and will also work to integrate Virtual Ophthalmology into the ophthalmologist's practice and training, and into patient education.

We are building an interdisciplinary team of excellent ophthalmologists, researchers and computer scientists, to find cures for patients with applications which have been considered impossible so far. Taking novel and unconventional approaches, our team will provide pioneering tools for better communication and information-processing in ophthalmology and beyond.

Artificial intelligence will speed up data processing. Our goal is to provide access to machine learning for every ophthalmologist, with regard to the identification of choroidal tumors. To better display eye diseases, data need to be freed from the current limitations, and flow into a creative pool of ideas. Rather than ‘out of the box’, we’ll be thinking without a box.

Please click here for a pdf excerpt of the IOB Annual Report 2018, to get more info about Peter and his work. 

For the full version of the IOB Annual Report 2018 please click here.

Short biography of Peter Maloca

Peter Maloca has worked as a fully-trained ophthalmologist and eye surgeon in his private practice and at the Department of Ophthalmology at Basel University, where he founded an optical coherence tomography laboratory (OCTlab) together with Pascal Hasler. He is also an honorary research fellow at the Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, working with Adnan Tufail. He additionally collaborates closely with Richard Spaide in New York. Peter and his former team developed a method for improving de-noised medical imaging. They also developed new OCT scanners for university research (HydraOCT) and for use in patients’ homes (MIMO OCT). These scanners improve the detection, treatment and monitoring of retinal diseases. Peter further provided 3D visualisation of the retina; in 2015 he presented the world’s first 3D-OCT IMAX films.

Peter Maloca has founded a professional information exchange platform for ophthalmologists (www.getoct.com), produced educational games for medical students and ophthalmologists, and organizes annual OCT congresses for ophthalmologists (Retinopsy). His recent development included a ground-breaking virtual reality application together with Philippe Cattin, Basel University, to render instant full volume OCT data with real-time shadow casting (Retinopsy Virtual Reality).

Walking into eyes using virtual reality

Peter Maloca received his second Wellcome Image Award in 2017 (following the one he received in 2016), for creating the most informative, striking and technically excellent medical images worldwide, enabling to “walk into eyes”.  He explains his work, leading to a revolution in diagnosis and benefits for the patients, in a 4 minute youtube video produced as teaser film for the Wellcome Image Awards 2017: Click to view.

Group Leader: Peter Maloca