Improving early detection of retinoblastoma in children using advanced imaging technology
Official title: Panretinal Circular Ranging OCT for Retinoblastoma
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-10789750 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new handheld device that takes detailed pictures of the eye to help doctors find early signs of retinoblastoma, a type of eye cancer in kids, so they can catch it sooner and provide better care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $241,068 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EY035816-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10789750 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old, particularly those with a family history of retinoblastoma who are at higher risk for developing the disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or those without a family history of retinoblastoma may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the early diagnosis of retinoblastoma, a common childhood eye cancer, through innovative imaging techniques. By developing a new handheld optical coherence tomography (HH-OCT) device that provides high-resolution, three-dimensional images of the retina, the study aims to improve the detection of subclinical tumors that traditional methods may miss. The research will involve pilot imaging studies with sedated children to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of this new technology in clinical settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of retinoblastoma, potentially reducing visual impairment and improving survival rates in affected children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques for cancer detection, suggesting that this approach could be effective, although the specific application for retinoblastoma is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jian, Yifan — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Jian, Yifan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how premalignant retinoblastoma lesions form and progress in children
Researchers are studying how early retinal lesions in kids with RB1 loss become malignant, with the goal of finding ways to prevent retinoblastoma progression.
-
Aqueous humor liquid biopsy to guide prognosis and monitoring in children with retinoblastoma
A liquid test using a small amount of eye fluid could reveal important tumor details to help predict how retinoblastoma in young children will behave and how well treatment is working.
-
Parent-of-Origin Effects in Retinoblastoma: Epigenetic Drivers of Tumor Risk and Progression
A study using long-read DNA sequencing to understand how the parent of origin of RB1 gene variants affects retinoblastoma risk and progression, with potential to guide personalized monitoring and treatment.
-
Retinoblastoma eye-sparing treatment for young children
A new, targeted eye treatment for young children with retinoblastoma aims to save eyes and reduce radiation exposure by delivering medicine directly into the eye.
-
How early retinal changes lead to retinoblastoma
This project looks at how early abnormal cells in the retina form and later turn into retinoblastoma in children, using lab-grown retinal tissue.
-
A tiny eye-fluid test to predict and track retinoblastoma in young children
This project uses a very small sample of eye fluid to look for tumor DNA that could help predict how retinoblastoma will behave and to follow treatment in children.
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.