High-resolution 7T fMRI to understand developmental causes of amblyopia
Official title: Applications of high resolution fMRI in ultra-high field (7T) in revealing developmental disorders underlying amblyopia
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11445359 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses ultra-high field brain imaging to learn how amblyopia develops in people, with an emphasis on how vision sources interact in early life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2020 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $745,443 |
| NIH project number | 2R01EY030434-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11445359 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children and adults with amblyopia or at risk of developing amblyopia who can undergo high-field MRI scanning.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without amblyopia or related visual disorders are unlikely to benefit from this study.
What this research studies
Amblyopia, or lazy eye, affects binocular vision from childhood and leads to lasting perceptual problems. The study will use cutting-edge 7T fMRI to map brain activity across visual areas in humans, aiming to connect developmental history with neural patterns. By comparing humans with amblyopia to typical vision, researchers hope to reveal mesoscale brain dynamics that underlie the disorder. The findings could point toward more precise diagnostic markers and future avenues for therapies that support binocular processing.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of brain changes in amblyopia could guide more targeted treatments and earlier interventions for children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal and human studies have advanced knowledge of amblyopia, but this project aims to bridge translational gaps using 7T imaging in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nasr, Shahin — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Nasr, Shahin
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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.