Exploring vision loss caused by CMV in people with HIV-related meningitis
Official title: Identifying CMV Retinitis as a Reversible Cause of Vision Loss in Persons with HIV-associated Meningitis
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-10752843 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how common a specific eye infection called CMV retinitis is in people with advanced HIV who are in the hospital with meningitis, and it aims to see if using smartphones for eye exams can help doctors, even those without special training, spot this problem better, so more people can get the eye care they need.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $315,883 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EY035567-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10752843 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals living with HIV/AIDS who are hospitalized with symptoms of meningitis.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have HIV or are not experiencing meningitis may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis may be a reversible cause of vision loss in individuals with advanced HIV disease who are experiencing meningitis. The study aims to determine the prevalence of CMV retinitis among Ugandan patients hospitalized with HIV-associated meningitis, utilizing innovative smartphone technology for eye examinations. By comparing the diagnostic accuracy of general physicians using mobile imaging to that of trained ophthalmologists, the research seeks to improve access to eye care in low-resource settings. Additionally, it will explore the relationship between viral presence in the body and the severity of eye disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment options for vision loss in patients with HIV-associated meningitis.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using mobile technology for eye examinations is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in improving healthcare access in resource-limited environments.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Skipper, Caleb P — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Skipper, Caleb P
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Personalized Immunomodulatory Therapy for HIV-related Cryptococcal Meningitis
A patient-focused study investigates a personalized treatment approach to improve outcomes for people with HIV who develop cryptococcal meningitis.
-
Improving Diagnostics and Neurocognitive Outcomes in HIV/AIDS-related Meningitis
A study in Uganda aims to use faster, better tests and a new antifungal to help people with HIV who develop meningitis.
-
TB meningitis diagnostic test compare and cost study in sub-Saharan Africa
Researchers are testing a new CSF urine-based test (SILVAMP TB LAM) to improve diagnosis of TB meningitis in people with HIV, to help speed treatment and reduce death in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Minimally Invasive Sampling to Improve HIV-Associated M meningitis Diagnosis in Africa
A research study is testing easier, less invasive ways to diagnose meningitis in people living with HIV, with a focus on making diagnosis faster and more accurate in Africa and the US.
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Understanding brain injury in kids with tuberculous meningitis (iThemba)
A study in children with TB meningitis in South Africa will look at how inflammation and blood-clotting factors relate to brain injury and infarcts.
-
Serological clues to survival in HIV-related cryptococcal meningitis
This grant looks for antibody signals in the blood that could predict who survives cryptococcal meningitis in people with HIV.
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.