Finding Early Signs of Diabetic Eye Damage
Official title: Dynamic Tracer Kinetic Model to Detect Preclinical Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)
Funded at The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology · NIH-11091494 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is developing a new way to find early signs of eye damage from diabetes, even before vision problems start.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hoboken, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2021 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $441,907 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY032222-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11091494 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with diabetes, especially those in the early stages or at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy, would be ideal candidates for future applications of this technology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who already have advanced diabetic retinopathy or significant vision loss may not directly benefit from this early detection method.
What this research studies
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) can cause severe vision loss, but it often develops silently for years before symptoms appear. Catching these early changes is crucial for preventing vision problems, but current methods aren't always sensitive enough or easy to use in a regular clinic. This project aims to create a more effective imaging technique to spot subtle changes in blood vessels in the eye that signal early DR. By improving how we see and measure these tiny changes, we hope to give doctors a better tool for early detection.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new imaging method could help doctors identify diabetic retinopathy much earlier, allowing for timely interventions to prevent vision loss.
How similar studies have gone: While other imaging technologies have shown promise in visualizing retinal vessels, this project seeks to enhance detection sensitivity and quantification beyond current limitations.
Where this research is happening
-
The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
Hoboken, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kang-Mieler, Jennifer J — The Trustees of the Stevens Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Kang-Mieler, Jennifer J
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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.