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Research title:ÌýDevelopment and Evaluation of an LLM-Powered Virtual Teacher System for Ophthalmic and Optometric Education

Supervisor:ÌýDr.Maitreyee Roy

Co-supervisors:ÌýDr Lisa Jane Keay, Dr Sajib Saha Kumar, Dr Rajiv Raman

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Abstract

While large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used in general education, their application in clinical disciplines such as ophthalmology and optometry remains limited. The project involves the design, development, and evaluation of an AI-powered educational platform that delivers domain-specific, personalized learning content. Multiple LLM architectures will be tested and fine-tuned using peer-reviewed literature, clinical guidelines, and curriculum-aligned resources to generate accurate and pedagogically appropriate instructional material.

The research aims to assess whether LLM-driven instruction can improve conceptual understanding, knowledge retention, and learner satisfaction compared to traditional teaching methods. This will be evaluated through a randomized controlled trial conducted in an academic setting, with structured assessments and expert-reviewed grading criteria.

By integrating AI into clinical education, this project addresses the growing need for scalable and high-quality teaching tools in vision sciences. The platform is intended to benefit optometry and ophthalmology students by enhancing accessibility, interactivity, and adaptability in learning. The findings will contribute to the evidence base for AI in medical education and support the design of intelligent learning systems for future health professionals.

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Biography

Janani Surya Ravichandran is a PhD candidate at the School of Optometry and Vision Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney. Her research focuses on AI-powered virtual education platforms for optometry and ophthalmology. She is a trained biostatistician and previously served as Scientist C at ICMR-NIE, India, where she contributed to national-level studies and taught MPH and MSc students. She is also trained in mathematical modeling of infectious diseases through the NTCP program in India. Janani has worked extensively on diabetic retinopathy research at Sankara Nethralaya and served as guest faculty at IIT Madras, where she taught biostatistics for clinical research. Her work spans over 43 peer-reviewed publications, including in The Lancet Global Health, BMJ Open, and PLOS ONE. She collaborates with leading institutions including CSIRO, ICMR, VIT, BITS Pilani (India), and the Retina Risk Group (Iceland), contributing to interdisciplinary research in AI, public health, and ophthalmology

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Education

PhD Candidate (Current) University of New South Wales (ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ), Sydney, Australia

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biostatistics (2012–2014) University of Madras, Chennai, India

Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Statistics (2009–2012) University of Madras, Chennai, India

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Awards

Best Student Award, B.Sc. Statistics – University of Madras

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Memberships and Affiliations

Member, Research Advisory Committee (RAC), Centre for Healthcare Advancement, Innovation & Research (CHAIR), Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Chennai (2024–Present)

Guest Faculty, Department of Medical Sciences & Technology, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras (2024–Present)

Collaborator, Retina Risk Group, Iceland

Collaborator, Sankara Nethralaya, Chennai – DR, Ophthalmic AI and Clinical Research

Board Member (Alumnus), Board of Studies – M.Sc. Biostatistics, SDNB Vaishnav College for Women, Chennai (2022)

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Conference Attendance

Resource Person, Workshop on Research Methodology and Biostatistics, TN Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai (2025)

Invited Speaker, National Statistics Day 2025 Webinar – Professional Avenues in Biostatistics, SDNB Vaishnav College for Women

Trainer, Faculty Faculty in multiple national workshops including: Biostatistical Tools Training Workshops, ICMR Statistical Methods in Epidemiology, ICMR and NIE Chennai

Oral Presentation: Estimation of incidence rates and trends in stomach cancer in the Indian population, presented at the 38th Annual IACR Conference & Scientific Symposium: Frontiers in Epidemiology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India, March 2017

Poster Presentation: Non-Cutaneous Melanoma in the Indian Population – An Epidemiological Insight from the National Cancer Registry Programme, presented at the 38th Annual IACR Conference, Mumbai, India, 2017