Center for Preventing and Treating Visual Loss in Veterans
Official title: Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss
Funded at Iowa City VA Medical Center · NIH-11308634 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A center-backed effort to detect early signs of eye and brain disorders that can cause blindness, using AI and advanced eye imaging to guide new treatments for Veterans and the general public.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Iowa City VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2019 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I50RX003002-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11308634 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are individuals at risk for or experiencing early signs of visual loss or related neurological and ocular symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without access to specialized VA imaging facilities may not directly benefit from the advanced testing.
What this research studies
This program works on catching vision-threatening conditions early by looking at how the eyes and nervous system interact, using 3-D eye movement and facial cues alongside AI tools. Researchers study how diseases progress and respond to treatments, aiming to find biomarkers that signal change before symptoms worsen. The approach blends machine learning with high-tech imaging to track structure and function in the eye and brain. Findings could help clinicians diagnose and monitor eye and neurological disorders earlier and more precisely.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive earlier diagnosis and more effective, personalized treatments to prevent vision loss.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work with AI and advanced ocular imaging has identified promising biomarkers and diagnostic cues, though translation to widespread care is ongoing.
Where this research is happening
-
Iowa City VA Medical Center
Iowa City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kardon, Randy H. — Iowa City VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kardon, Randy H.
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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.