AI-enhanced wide-field eye scans for detecting retinopathy of prematurity
Artificial Intelligence Assisted Panoramic Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography for Retinopathy of Prematurity
Using faster handheld wide-field eye scans plus AI to find early signs of retinopathy of prematurity in premature babies and help guide treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11381770 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your baby was born prematurely and is at risk for retinopathy of prematurity, this project uses newly developed faster, wide-field handheld OCT and OCTA scanners to take detailed images of the infant's retina. An artificial-intelligence tool helps read those images to reduce examiner differences and detect disease features earlier than the traditional eye exam. The research team has built prototypes and collected thousands of neonatal eye images to improve the scans and the AI. The aim is to make screening more objective so fewer babies are under-treated or over-treated.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Premature infants who meet standard ROP screening criteria and are receiving care in neonatal intensive care units are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Full-term infants without ROP risk or infants with already extensive, irreversible retinal detachment are unlikely to benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This could enable earlier, more objective detection and treatment of ROP, lowering the risk of preventable retinal detachment and vision loss.
How similar studies have performed: OCT, OCTA, and AI approaches have improved early detection in adult retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, but using wide-field handheld OCTA with AI in neonatal ROP is a newer and less-tested application.
Where this research is happening
Portland, United States
- Oregon Health & Science University — Portland, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jian, Yifan — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Jian, Yifan
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.