In vivo eye imaging to map immune activity in uveitis
Official title: In vivo imaging of the immune response in human uveitis: linking cellular level optical biomarkers to the immune environment of the living eye
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11345071 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A noninvasive imaging approach in people with uveitis to visualize how immune cells behave in the living eye and how that relates to disease activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $679,650 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY038853-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345071 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with uveitis (inflammatory eye disease) who can undergo eye imaging with adaptive optics and related immunological assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose condition cannot be visualized with the imaging method or who cannot participate in the imaging procedures may not benefit.
What this research studies
Uveitis can cause significant vision loss and is difficult to diagnose with current tests. This project uses adaptive optics imaging to see immune cells and inflammatory signals directly in the eye in real time. By comparing infectious and non-infectious uveitis, researchers aim to map how the eye’s immune environment differs and how treatments affect it. The study builds on noninvasive, label-free imaging to develop biomarkers that could guide diagnosis and track treatment responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with uveitis may get faster, more precise diagnoses and better ways to monitor treatment effectiveness in real time.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work demonstrated real-time imaging of immune responses in the living eye, suggesting this approach is promising but yet to be proven in broader patient groups.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rossi, Ethan a — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Rossi, Ethan a
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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.