A New Eye Scan to Understand and Help Retinitis Pigmentosa
Mitigating retinitis pigmentosa based on a non-invasive rod energy-landscape biomarker
This project looks for a gentle way to measure eye health in people with retinitis pigmentosa, hoping to find new ways to help them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wayne State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Detroit, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11142437 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Retinitis pigmentosa can lead to vision loss, and we believe problems with tiny energy factories in eye cells, called mitochondria, play a role. Currently, it's hard to check these mitochondrial issues directly in patients, so we need a new, gentle way to see what's happening. This project is developing a special eye scan, called OCT, to look at a specific part of the eye called the inner segment ellipsoid zone (ISez). We think changes in the ISez shape, which we've seen in early animal models, can tell us about how well the mitochondria are working, potentially guiding future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant for individuals living with retinitis pigmentosa, especially those experiencing vision changes.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment or cure for retinitis pigmentosa may not directly benefit from this early-stage research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a non-invasive way to track eye health in retinitis pigmentosa and help doctors choose the best treatments for each patient.
How similar studies have performed: This approach is novel, building on promising early findings in animal models that link eye scan features to mitochondrial health.
Where this research is happening
Detroit, United States
- Wayne State University — Detroit, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Berkowitz, Bruce a. — Wayne State University
- Study coordinator: Berkowitz, Bruce a.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.