Barber-CLIP: Expanding Vision Health Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy in Barbershops
Official title: Barber-CLIP: Expanding Vision Health Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy through Community Engagement
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11344181 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A community-based program trains barbershop staff to screen men for diabetic retinopathy using tele-screening, linking them to eye care to prevent vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,525,498 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY038941-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11344181 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults 21+ with diabetes who visit participating barbershops.
✕Less likely to help
People not connected to participating barbershops or without diabetes may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of vision loss in adults, especially in underserved communities. Barber-CLIP brings screening to barbershops by training community health workers to perform tele-screening and refer men to ophthalmology care. The study will identify what helps or hinders adoption in barbershops and test whether this approach improves timely access to eye care and reduces vision-threatening complications. It uses a cluster-randomized design across 22 barbershops to compare an intervention with standard practice. If successful, the approach could sustain community-based vision screening and reduce disparities in diabetic eye disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could lead to earlier detection of retinopathy and smoother access to eye care for men in under-resourced communities, potentially preventing vision loss.
How similar studies have gone: Barbershop-based health screening has shown promise in hypertension programs, suggesting potential for DR screening as well.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ravenell, Joseph E — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Ravenell, Joseph E
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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.