Improving eye imaging for detecting retinopathy of prematurity in infants
Official title: Point-of-care ophthalmic diagnostic imaging of retinopathy of prematurity
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11018583 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new handheld device that helps doctors see the tiny blood vessels in the eyes of premature babies, making it easier to spot and track retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) so they can provide better care and treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $584,129 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY033969-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11018583 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are preterm infants who are at risk for developing retinopathy of prematurity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not preterm or do not have retinopathy of prematurity may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the diagnostic imaging techniques for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a condition that can lead to blindness in preterm infants. The study aims to develop a handheld optical coherence tomography (OCT) system that can accurately visualize the retinal microvasculature in infants, overcoming challenges such as infant motion and the inability to fixate. By utilizing advanced imaging technology, the research seeks to provide better tracking of ROP progression and improve diagnosis and treatment outcomes for affected infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate detection of retinopathy of prematurity, potentially preventing blindness in at-risk infants.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques for similar conditions, indicating a potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oguz, Ipek — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Oguz, Ipek
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Bedside retinal imaging to detect and track retinopathy of prematurity
This project aims to bring easy-to-use bedside retinal imaging for premature infants to help find and track the blood vessel changes that can lead to childhood blindness.
-
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TopoROP: Multi-View Analysis to Diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity
A new AI-based tool analyzes retinal images to help doctors diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity in premature babies and other patients at risk.
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Long-term endotypes of prematurity-related lung disease in former preemies
A long-term study looking at why some babies born very early develop lasting breathing problems and how their genes might explain these different paths.
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.