Better detection and tracking of eye diseases using medical records

Enhanced Identification of Ocular Phenotypes and Outcomes in Electronic Health Record Data

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · NIH-11081770

Researchers will use smart computer algorithms to find and track people with sight‑threatening eye conditions in electronic health records so doctors and scientists can learn more about outcomes.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR (nih funded)
Locations1 site (ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11081770 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

From your viewpoint, researchers will use large electronic health record databases and modern machine‑learning tools to search both structured data and doctors' notes for signs of common eye diseases. They will create and test methods to more accurately identify who has a disease, how severe it is, and whether a patient's condition is improving or worsening over time. The team will validate these tools against known cases so the methods work reliably across many patients. This work aims to go beyond billing codes and capture richer clinical details that reflect real vision outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: People with common sight‑threatening eye diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, or age‑related macular degeneration who receive care within participating health systems would be most relevant to this work.

Not a fit: Patients whose care is not captured in the electronic systems used for this project or those with rare, non‑targeted eye conditions may not see direct benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help detect eye disease earlier, more accurately track progression, and improve research that leads to better care and outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Prior work shows machine‑learning on EHR data can outperform billing codes for identifying some conditions, but applying and rigorously validating these methods specifically for common sight‑threatening eye diseases is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.