Advanced eye imaging to detect early age-related macular degeneration
Novel Optical Diagnostics with Optical Coherence Tomography
['FUNDING_R01'] · MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY · NIH-11296989
This project develops improved OCT and OCTA eye scans to spot early macular degeneration and subtle changes in retinal cells and blood flow.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11296989 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would receive new types of noninvasive eye scans designed to see tiny changes in the light-sensing cells, supporting pigment layer, and the tiny blood vessels beneath the retina. The team is building faster OCTA methods to measure blood flow speed, higher-resolution OCT with motion correction and AI segmentation to reveal features below current scans, and an 840 nm swept-source option for one-shot imaging. These tools will be used to compare eyes from people with normal aging and those with early AMD to look for imaging signs that predict worsening. Imaging visits would take place at MIT or affiliated clinical sites and involve sitting for detailed retinal scans.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (typically over 40) with early or suspected age-related macular degeneration or people willing to serve as age-matched controls.
Not a fit: People without macular problems or those with advanced, irreversible vision loss are unlikely to receive direct benefit from the early-detection imaging methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these scans could detect AMD earlier and track progression more accurately so doctors can act sooner to protect vision.
How similar studies have performed: Standard OCT and OCTA are well-established for retinal imaging, but the specific high-resolution, VISTA flow-speed measurements and the proposed 840 nm swept-source methods are newer and less tested in large patient groups.
Where this research is happening
CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES
- MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY — CAMBRIDGE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FUJIMOTO, JAMES G — MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
- Study coordinator: FUJIMOTO, JAMES G
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.