Bringing diabetic eye screenings to rural communities
I-TRUST: Implementation of Teleophthalmology in Rural Health Systems Study
This project helps rural clinics offer remote eye exams so adults with diabetes get yearly screenings and lower their risk of vision loss.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11174228 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your point of view, this program works with rural primary care clinics to add teleophthalmology—remote retinal imaging reviewed by eye specialists—so you can get an eye check at your local clinic instead of traveling far. The team is running a multi-center randomized trial that compares clinics using the I-SITE implementation program to usual care to see which clinics more consistently offer tele-eye exams. Researchers will track how many patients get screened, study which clinic workflows and supports lead to high use, and measure the costs of running the program. Clinic staff will tailor the teleophthalmology steps to fit local workflows to make screening easier for patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with diabetes who receive care at participating rural primary care clinics are the intended candidates.
Not a fit: People without diabetes, those who do not go to the participating clinics, or those whose diabetic retinopathy is already advanced are unlikely to benefit from the screening program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could increase screening rates in rural areas and help prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy.
How similar studies have performed: Previous teleophthalmology programs have increased diabetic eye screening and the I-SITE pilot showed promising results, though widespread use in multi-payer rural clinics remains limited.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Yao — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Liu, Yao
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.