No-Touch Heartbeat Nano-Measure of Corneal Elasticity
Official title: No-Touch High Resolution Optical Coherence Elastography of the Cornea using a Heartbeat
Funded at University of Houston · NIH-11382074 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, non-contact method uses heartbeat-driven optical coherence to measure how flexible the cornea is, with potential to improve eye disease care.
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 start | September 30, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $549,599 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY033978-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382074 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with corneal conditions or risk factors studied in the human in vivo phase (e.g., keratoconus, post-surgical corneas) who can tolerate non-contact testing.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without corneal disease or those unable to participate in non-contact ocular testing may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop a fast, non-contact system that can map how the cornea responds to tiny internal eye pressure changes. It will first build the hbOCE device, then test it on ex vivo eyes, followed by in vivo testing in rabbits, and finally in humans to refine how we measure corneal stiffness in clinical settings. By capturing high-resolution biomechanical data from living eyes, clinicians could gain new clues about diseases like keratoconus and myopia progression without touching the eye. The work proposes iterative testing and safety checks to ensure accurate, repeatable measurements that can be integrated into routine eye exams.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive better-diagnosed corneal conditions and more precise monitoring of disease progression with a quick, non-contact test.
How similar studies have gone: Previous corneal biomechanical measurements exist but lack high-resolution, non-contact methods; this approach is innovative and builds on earlier elastography concepts.
Where this research is happening
-
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.