A new noninvasive eye test to detect early retinal damage
Development of a novel, noninvasive, sensitive measure of retinal dysfunction
This project is developing a simple, noninvasive eye test to find early retina damage in people at risk for diabetic retinopathy or inherited retinal diseases.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251977 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be helping researchers build a straightforward eye test that can pick up retinal dysfunction before you notice vision loss. The team will adapt advanced imaging techniques (like adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy) and compare those signals with established tests such as the electroretinogram to identify sensitive, easy-to-measure markers. They plan to study people with conditions that affect the retina, including diabetes-related retinopathy and retinitis pigmentosa, to see which measures change earliest. The goal is a test that clinics can use more widely to spot disease sooner and to provide better outcome measures for new treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include people with diabetes, people with early or suspected retinal disease, or those with a family history of inherited retinal conditions like retinitis pigmentosa.
Not a fit: People with advanced, irreversible vision loss, those without retinal disease, or individuals who cannot undergo retinal imaging (for example due to dense cataract) are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier diagnosis and treatment that may help preserve vision and guide therapy decisions.
How similar studies have performed: High-resolution tests such as electroretinography and adaptive optics imaging have detected early retinal changes in prior work, but this simpler, clinic-friendly measure is novel and less tested.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dunn, Felice a — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Dunn, Felice 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.