AI-powered eye imaging to screen for type 2 diabetes with a mobile phone
Official title: AI-enabled mobile-based fundus imaging for diabetes screening
Funded at Emory University · NIH-11619351 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A plan to use AI on smartphone retinal images to help spot type 2 diabetes early, especially in people who may not have easy access to care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $33,918 |
| NIH project number | 3R21TW013360-01S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11619351 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older who are at risk for or have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes and can use a smartphone-based fundus imaging system.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals unable to undergo retinal imaging or who do not have access to smartphone-enabled imaging in the tested settings may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will adapt AI software to analyze retinal images taken with a mobile fundus camera to screen for type 2 diabetes in adults. The team will develop and validate the AI model, then test its use in real-world clinic and community settings in the US and India. By combining portable eye imaging with AI, the effort aims to provide a non-invasive, accessible screening option that could reach people in low-resource or rural areas. The work builds on prior findings that eye-based AI signals can indicate diabetes risk and seeks to translate that into a practical screening tool.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could enable earlier diabetes detection in people who might not be screened otherwise, potentially reducing complications.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests AI-driven retinal imaging can detect diabetes risk with good accuracy, and this project aims to validate and extend those findings in real-world use.
Where this research is happening
-
Emory University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Weber, Mary Beth — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Weber, Mary Beth
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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.