AI devices and brain changes to help people with vision loss
Sensory Substitution and Brain Plasticity Following Vision Loss
This project helps people who are blind use AI-powered devices that turn camera images into touch or sound so they can better understand and move through their surroundings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11376765 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would try non-surgical, low-cost devices that convert camera images into touch or sound signals and learn to use them in daily life. The team will work with people who lost vision at different ages to see how their brains adapt and which training methods help most. They will combine AI to improve the device output with brain imaging and behavioral tests to track brain plasticity and real-world performance. The aim is to refine practical devices and training so blind people can gain more independence.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with severe vision loss or blindness, including those who became blind early or later in life, who can participate in device training and testing sessions.
Not a fit: Those with only mild, usable vision or who already have effective surgical implants are less likely to benefit from these technologies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could give people with vision loss a practical, non-surgical way to perceive their environment and increase independence.
How similar studies have performed: Small prior studies of sensory substitution have shown it can help with navigation and object recognition, but combining AI with brain-imaging–guided training is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chan, Kevin C — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Chan, Kevin C
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.