No-touch heartbeat cornea stiffness imaging
No-Touch High Resolution Optical Coherence Elastography of the Cornea using a Heartbeat
This project uses tiny, natural pressure pulses from the heartbeat to create a no‑touch, high‑resolution map of cornea stiffness for people with or at risk of corneal problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11163504 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will build an imaging device that uses the eye's small pressure changes from the heartbeat to gently move the cornea while optical coherence elastography captures high‑resolution images without touching the eye. They will first refine the system on excised eye tissue and then test it in live rabbit eyes to verify safety and accuracy. After preclinical testing, the team will perform in‑person human imaging to improve measurement methods and adapt the technology for clinical use. The goal is to produce fast, noninvasive corneal stiffness maps that could be used during routine eye visits.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with suspected or known corneal conditions (such as keratoconus), those who have had refractive surgery, or people with progressive myopia who need corneal biomechanics information.
Not a fit: Patients with eye problems unrelated to corneal biomechanics (for example isolated retinal diseases) or those unable to tolerate standard eye imaging may not benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could detect corneal weakening earlier and help guide treatments to protect vision and avoid complications from surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Other groups have used optical coherence elastography to study corneal mechanics, but using heartbeat‑driven, no‑touch high‑resolution mapping in humans is a relatively new and largely untested approach.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- University of Houston — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Larin, Kirill V — University of Houston
- Study coordinator: Larin, Kirill V
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 below.