Professor Andrew Turpin has been appointed as the inaugural Lions Curtin ophthalmic big data chair.

Professor Turpin is a global leader in data science and analytics and is currently Melbourne Data Analytics Platform (MDAP) director and University of Melbourne petascale campus initiative senior academic convenor. He will commence in his new role in Perth in November this year.

The position has been established by the Lions Eye Institute and Curtin University with support from the Lions Save-Sight Foundation WA (LSSFWA) to enhance leadership and research in ophthalmic big data.

The chair will build on experience in computer science, image analysis and computation involving large datasets, including data interpretation assisted by artificial intelligence methods. Curtin and LSSFWA jointly fund the position.

Lions Eye Institute managing director Professor Bill Morgan says the appointment will contribute to Western Australia's burgeoning reputation as a centre for research excellence in ocular disease.

"Professor Turpin will bring deep expertise that will further develop the Institute's and Curtin's work in artificial intelligence, image analysis, Indigenous, rural and remote eye health, and data linkage," Professor Morgan says.

"He will help to drive the research agenda and facilitate the translation of research knowledge into policy and practice."

Curtin University faculty of health sciences pro vice-chancellor Professor Archie Clements says he is delighted to welcome Professor Turpin to Curtin University and Western Australia.

"Professor Turpin's extensive academic leadership experience will be critical for lifting data science research in the State, with a focus on eye health, an area of significant need here in WA," Clements says.

"Our partnership with the Lions Eye Institute has been incredibly exciting and we look forward to Professor Turpin building on the momentum we have created in eye health research," Professor Clements adds.

"I am looking forward to the opportunities that the combined resources of the Lions Eye Institute, Curtin and Western Australia will bring to improve patient outcomes using data and computational techniques." Professor Turpin says.

The Lions Eye Institute and The University of Western Australia recently announced the appointment of the Lions Eye Institute optometry research UWA chair, Professor Allison McKendrick, while an international search is underway to fill the Ian Constable chair in Discovery and Translational Ophthalmic Science.