High-resolution two-photon retinal imaging
Official title: High Resolution Functional Imaging of the Retina
Funded at University of Waterloo · NIH-10621149 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A near-infrared two-photon imaging approach is being developed to let clinicians see individual retina cells and their chemical activity for people with retinal conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Waterloo NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Waterloo, Canada) |
| Project start | April 1, 2012 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $314,576 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY022371-11 |
| Project ID | NIH-10621149 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Future human imaging would likely enroll people with photoreceptor-related retinal diseases (for example age-related macular degeneration or inherited retinal degenerations) and healthy volunteers for comparison.
✕Less likely to help
People with dense cataracts or other major media opacities, or those seeking immediate therapeutic benefit rather than diagnostic imaging, would be unlikely to gain direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
Researchers are building a non-invasive imaging camera that uses near-infrared two-photon light and adaptive optics to make naturally fluorescent molecules in the eye visible at single-cell resolution. The method records both how bright the fluorescence is and how long it lasts after light stimulation to reveal photoreceptor metabolism and neuronal activity. Most work so far is being done in pre-clinical models to refine imaging, timing, and safety before broader human use. The long-term goal is a safe tool to track cellular changes in living eyes over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier detection of retinal cell damage and non-invasive monitoring of treatment effects at the cellular level.
How similar studies have gone: Two-photon and adaptive-optics retinal imaging have shown promising results in animal studies and early feasibility human work, but remain experimental for routine clinical use.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Waterloo
Waterloo, Canada Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hunter, Jennifer J — University of Waterloo
- Study coordinator: Hunter, 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.