Evaluating and predicting risk for angle closure disease using advanced imaging techniques
Official title: Clinical Evaluation and Risk Stratification of Angle Closure Disease Using Quantitative OCT
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11004976 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to spot and understand the risk of angle closure disease, which can lead to glaucoma and blindness, so that we can help people at risk get the care they need earlier and more effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $447,309 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY035677-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11004976 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with narrow angles or those identified as at risk for developing primary angle closure glaucoma, particularly within vulnerable racial groups.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have narrow angles or are not at risk for primary angle closure glaucoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on improving the detection and risk assessment of angle closure disease, a leading cause of glaucoma and irreversible blindness. By utilizing quantitative optical coherence tomography (OCT), the study aims to provide a more accurate and less subjective method for identifying patients at risk of developing primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG). The goal is to enhance early intervention strategies, particularly for vulnerable populations, thereby reducing the incidence of blindness associated with this condition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better screening and treatment strategies for patients at risk of angle closure glaucoma, ultimately reducing blindness rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated that advanced imaging techniques like OCT can improve the detection of glaucoma-related conditions, suggesting a promising avenue for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Benjamin Y. — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Xu, Benjamin Y.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
RNA dysregulation in a rare childhood brain disorder (PCH1b)
Researchers are studying a rare genetic brain disease in young children to understand how RNA processing goes wrong and leads to damage in the cerebellum and brainstem.
-
Studying how diverse signals come from similar molecules at glutamatergic synapses
A project at a university explores how synapses in the brain create different signals from a shared set of molecules, using a fruit-fly model to understand how this could relate to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases.
-
How brain chemicals may influence tau clumps in Alzheimer’s disease
A study from USC explores how certain brain chemicals might influence the clumping of tau protein related to Alzheimer’s disease, aiming to identify factors that could affect disease progression.
-
GLP-1 medicines and brain health: real-world clues about dementia risk
A nationwide study will follow adults 21 and older using GLP-1 medicines to see how these drugs relate to memory, thinking, and dementia risk in real life.
-
Male pesticide exposure and reproductive health through epigenetics
This project looks at how a man’s exposure to pesticides might affect his fertility and the health of his future children through changes in DNA.
-
Global effort to harmonize fMRI findings in psychiatry
A large, international effort will standardize how brain MRI data are collected and analyzed in people with various mental health conditions to improve consistency and discovery.
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.