Early signs that predict worsening of age-related macular degeneration
Epidemiology of Biomarkers of AMD Progression
This project looks at modern eye scans to find early signs that show whether people with age-related macular degeneration will get worse.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Doheny Eye Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pasadena, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11170593 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will use modern retinal imaging (like OCT and OCT angiography) and past eye photos to track how AMD changes over time. They will measure specific scan features—for example, intraretinal hyper-reflective foci and subretinal drusenoid deposits—and use those measurements to build a more detailed staging system for AMD. The team will analyze large sets of images and follow-up data to identify which biomarkers reliably appear before severe vision loss or geographic atrophy. The work combines clinical imaging, computerized quantification, and long-term patient follow-up to help pick better patients and endpoints for future treatment trials.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults with early or intermediate age-related macular degeneration who can come in for retinal imaging and follow-up visits.
Not a fit: People who already have advanced geographic atrophy or severe vision loss are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this observational work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors spot high-risk AMD earlier and allow patients to get into trials or treatments before irreversible vision loss.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies using color photos and newer OCT scans have suggested some of these biomarkers predict progression, but applying them to create a practical early-staging system remains relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Pasadena, UNITED STATES
- Doheny Eye Institute — Pasadena, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sadda, Srinivas R — Doheny Eye Institute
- Study coordinator: Sadda, Srinivas R
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.