Improving imaging of retinal blood vessels for eye disease diagnosis
Official title: Auto-sensing, instantaneous adaptive ranging OCT
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11037091 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new imaging technology that helps doctors see the tiny blood vessels in your eyes better, which is important for diagnosing eye conditions like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, and it involves testing this technology on people to make sure it works well.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $256,296 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EY037019-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11037091 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, or macular degeneration.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no retinal vascular issues or those who do not have access to the imaging technology may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the imaging capabilities of retinal blood vessels, which are crucial for diagnosing common eye diseases like diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma. The team aims to develop a new optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) technology that can significantly increase the depth range of imaging, allowing for better visualization of peripheral retinal microvasculature. By utilizing advanced photonics technology, they plan to create a fast, tunable optical delay line to improve imaging speed and quality. The effectiveness of this new technology will be validated through tests on human subjects, aiming to establish its clinical utility.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate diagnoses and better management of eye diseases, potentially preserving vision for many patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with advanced imaging technologies in ophthalmology, indicating a strong potential for success with this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vakoc, Benjamin James — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Vakoc, Benjamin James
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.