Adaptive Optics Fluorescence Lifetime Ophthalmoscopy (AOFLIO) in healthy eyes and in disease
Official title: Adaptive Optics Fluorescence Lifetime Ophthalmoscopy (AOFLIO) in healthy people and with disease
Funded at University of Waterloo · NIH-11418377 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new imaging method called AOFLIO will be tested in healthy adults and people with retinal disease to measure how fluorescence lifetime relates to eye cell health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Waterloo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waterloo, Canada) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $193,535 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY032116-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418377 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 21 and older, including those with Stargardt disease or age-related changes affecting the retina.
✕Less likely to help
People without retinal disease or aging-related retinal changes may see limited immediate benefit beyond contributing to knowledge.
What this research studies
This project will develop and test AOFLIO to map how long light stays as fluorescence in retinal pigment epithelium cells. By comparing healthy eyes with those affected by Stargardt disease and aging, researchers aim to link lifetime measurements with cellular health. The study uses advanced optical imaging to visualize and quantify lipofuscin and other cellular markers at the level of the eye’s retina. The goal is to identify biomarkers that could help diagnose and monitor retinal diseases in patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could gain better tools for early diagnosis and monitoring of retinal diseases through noninvasive eye imaging.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work in adaptive optics imaging has shown promise, but measuring fluorescence lifetime in human retinal cells is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hunter, Jennifer J — University of Waterloo
- Study coordinator: Hunter, Jennifer J
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.