AI helps more people get diabetic retinopathy screening
Official title: Understanding the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Expanding Access to Diabetic Retinopathy Screening
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11354494 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A small study will look at how artificial intelligence-based eye screening can make it easier for adults with diabetes to get DR screening and treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $439,174 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EY038977-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11354494 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with diabetes who receive or are eligible for DR screening and live in the United States, especially beneficiaries using or near AI-enabled screening.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without diabetes or those not using or near AI-enabled screening may not benefit from this particular study.
What this research studies
This project will examine how autonomous AI tools for diabetic retinopathy screening are adopted in real-world settings using Medicare data. Researchers will compare clinics and patients who use AI screening with those who don’t to understand who benefits most. The study will use a quasi-experimental design to see how timing of AI adoption affects access to screening and subsequent care. The goal is to identify barriers and facilitators so more adults with diabetes can get timely eye exams and prevent vision loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could show how AI-enabled screening expands access to care and helps prevent blindness in people with diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary findings from other regions suggest AI can aid DR screening, but this study uniquely uses Medicare data to quantify adoption and access.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neprash, Hannah Toby — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Neprash, Hannah Toby
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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.