Dr. Ed Chaum is a physician-scientist, entrepreneur, and national leader in ophthalmic innovation. A retina specialist with over 25 years of clinical and translational research experience, his work bridges molecular biology, biomedical engineering, and nanotechnology to develop novel diagnostics, surgical tools, and biosensors. At Vanderbilt, he holds appointments in Ophthalmology, Biomedical Engineering, and Pathology, and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications while leading major national clinical trials.
Dr. Chaum is also the founder and Chief Medical Officer of multiple startups, including Infusense (biosensors for drug monitoring), TetraSense (rapid cannabinoid testing), and Plexitome (a novel device for corneal abrasions). His technologies have secured more than a dozen patents and won national awards for innovation, including the R&D100 and American Telemedicine Association Innovation Award. His mission is to translate engineering breakthroughs into scalable clinical solutions that improve patient care.