IRD Global Foundation bridges the gap between resources and need — fueling evidence-based, locally led health programs that save lives and build healthier futures.
Dr. Syed M. A. Shah, MBBS, FACS, is a board-certified retina specialist and Fellow of the American College of Surgeons with over 24 years of experience in clinical care, academic leadership, and translational research. He serves as Vice Chair for Research and Digital Medicine in the Department of Ophthalmology at Emplify Health, and holds faculty appointments at Aga Khan University and NUST.
His work spans retinal imaging, clinical trials, gene therapy, digital innovation, and healthcare delivery. As co-founder of the Retinal Imaging Research and Reading Center and the Quantum Vision Reading Center, he has advanced the use of multimodal imaging, functional outcomes, and molecular biomarkers in clinical trials. His contributions to digital medicine include AI-driven diagnostics, digital biomarkers, and immersive technologies, all aimed at improving efficiency, equity, and clinical impact in resource-poor settings.
Dr. Shah has led or contributed to over 45 clinical trials, published more than 75 peer-reviewed articles, and serves on multiple advisory boards. He is committed to mentoring future clinician
Dr. Faisal Cheema
Inaugural Board Director, IRD Global Foundation
Dr. Cheema is a highly accomplished physician-scientist, healthcare executive, and global health advocate with a distinguished record of advancing innovation at the nexus of medicine, technology, and social impact. He currently serves as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at George Mason University and is the CEO and Founder of ClinRé, a next-generation clinical trials venture transforming access to research. He also serves as Chief Medical Officer at Vianova, a digital health AI company focused on scalable virtual care management. An accomplished entrepreneur, Dr. Cheema has founded multiple innovative healthcare startups—including ascitEase, Novus-Medicus, Labbé DynamiQs, and invinciMeD—and serves on the board of Pumpinheart, SBG and Carelife.
Dr. Cheema's leadership experience spans diverse sectors, having served as Director of Research at HCA Research Institute’s Gulf Coast Division and Director of Research and Innovations at Baylor College of Medicine. Over his career, he has designed and led expansive research programs across academic and healthcare systems, successfully securing over $8 million in competitive funding and steering research initiatives across 16 hospitals and multiple clinical disciplines and rolling out of Convalescent Plasma in 172 HCA Healthcare Hospitals across 22 States in USA under Emergency Use Authorization attained by Mayo Clinic from U.S. FDA.
A prolific scholar with 150+ peer-reviewed publications and an h-index of 41, Dr. Cheema's research has been showcased in premier journals. His global outlook is informed by his upbringing in Pakistan, extensive training at Columbia University, and academic appointments at institutions such as Columbia, University of Maryland, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Heart Institute, and the University of Houston.
As an inaugural board director of the IRD Global Foundation, Dr. Cheema is dedicated to leveraging his clinical expertise, entrepreneurial mindset, and global perspective to drive equitable, evidence-based solutions that uplift underserved communities and foster sustainable health outcomes worldwide.
