Improving retinal imaging for infants and children
Official title: Auto-aligning hand-held OCT and OCTA for pediatric applications
Funded at Duke University · NIH-10951602 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new, easy-to-use hand-held device that takes clear pictures of the eyes in babies and kids, making it less stressful for them during check-ups and helping doctors better diagnose and monitor eye conditions like retinopathy of prematurity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $193,168 |
| NIH project number | 1R21EY036545-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10951602 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants and children under the age of 11 who require retinal imaging for conditions such as retinopathy of prematurity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 11 years or those without retinal diseases may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new hand-held device that uses optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCTA) to provide high-quality imaging of the retina in infants and children. The goal is to create a system that is easy to use and reduces stress during examinations, which is crucial for young patients who may struggle with traditional methods. By enhancing the alignment and efficiency of the imaging process, this project aims to improve the diagnosis and monitoring of retinal diseases like retinopathy of prematurity. The approach involves innovative technology that has the potential to make retinal imaging more accessible and effective for pediatric patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to less stressful and more accurate retinal diagnostics for infants and children, potentially improving outcomes for those with retinal diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using hand-held OCT devices for pediatric applications, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dhalla, Al-Hafeez Zahir — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Dhalla, Al-Hafeez Zahir
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Investigating genetic factors in Lewy body diseases
This study is looking at how changes in a specific gene might play a role in conditions like Parkinson's disease and dementia, so that people can better understand how their genetics affect their health and possibly find more tailored treatments.
-
Targeting the PAX3-FOXO1 protein in a deadly childhood cancer
This study is looking at a specific protein that helps a tough childhood cancer called alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, with the goal of finding new ways to treat kids who have this illness.
-
Improving population health by studying reproduction and development
This study is looking at how different things in our environment can impact pregnancy and the health of babies, and it’s for people who are planning to have children or are already parents, as it aims to help improve understanding and outcomes for everyone involved.
-
Modeling axon degeneration in C. elegans to help ALS patients
Researchers are using a tiny worm model to uncover how axons break down, which could point to new ways to help people with ALS and related nerve diseases.
-
Induced Suppression of Platelet Activity in Aneurysmal SAH Management
A new approach tests whether carefully reducing platelet activity can improve outcomes after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
-
AI-enhanced virtual reality tool to support remote emergency brain surgery training in Tanzania
A new AI-powered virtual reality tool helps non-experts in low-resource areas get real-time remote guidance for emergency traumatic brain injury surgery.
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.