Kanishka Thiran Jayasundera has been appointed professor and chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science at the UC Davis School of Medicine. He will also serve as the Fosse Endowed Chair in Vision Science Research.

Jayasundera comes to UC Davis Health from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. There he served as the Paul R. Lichter Professor of Ophthalmic Genetics and professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the university’s Kellogg Eye Center.

“It’s an honor to join UC Davis as chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science,” Jayasundera said. “I’m deeply inspired by the department’s commitment to treating challenging cases and advancing research in blinding diseases. I look forward to contributing to this vital work and collaborating with my colleagues to develop new treatments that improve both sight and quality of life for our patients.”

Jayasundera specializes in retinal diseases and is known internationally for inherited retinal diseases. He built his distinguished career by focusing on improving treatments and providing mental health support for patients with inherited retinal diseases.

"Dr. Jayasundera’s clinical expertise and compassionate care have placed him at the forefront of vision restoration, including pioneering work in gene therapy and retinal prostheses," said Susan Murin, dean of the UC Davis School of Medicine. "Under his leadership, we're excited to further advance our nationally recognized ophthalmology care and research programs, benefiting our community."

A passionate researcher and innovator, Jayasundera has led numerous groundbreaking studies funded by the National Institutes of Health, Foundation Fighting Blindness and other major organizations.

He developed the Michigan Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire and the Michigan Vision-related Anxiety Questionnaire, which transformed how patient-reported outcomes are measured in clinical trials for inherited retinal diseases.

Beyond his clinical and research achievements, Jayasundera has made lasting contributions to education and mentorship, training dozens of fellows and residents from around the world.

Jayasundera received his medical degree from the University of Auckland in New Zealand and completed his internship at the University of Auckland. He completed his residency in ophthalmology at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and his fellowships at the Kellogg Eye Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with a subsequent fellowship at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

Dean Murin expressed gratitude to former chair, Mark Mannis, who led the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences for more than 20 years. Under Mannis’ leadership, the department opened the Ernest E. Tschannen Eye Institute, expanding the department’s capacity for research and high-quality vision care in the Sacramento region and beyond.

“We are grateful to Dr. Mannis for his dedication to patient care and his steadfast vision in leading the department to new heights,” said Murin.

Resources

• Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences
• Kanishka Thiran Jayasundera’s Research (PubMed)
• Photos