Optoretinogram: a new test to read retinal cell responses to light
Investigating fundamental properties and clinical applications of the optoretinogram
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · NIH-11285304
This project uses a high-resolution optical test called the optoretinogram to record how rod and cone cells in the retina respond to light in people with normal vision and retinal disease.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (DAVIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11285304 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers use a special imaging system (adaptive optics OCT) to take 3-D, cellular-resolution pictures of the living retina and to measure tiny shape changes in photoreceptor cells after light flashes. The work will first measure responses in healthy volunteers to understand how rods and cones normally behave and what affects the signal. It will then study the biological mechanisms behind those light‑evoked deformations and the conditions that change or saturate the signal. Finally, the team will apply the test to people with well-characterized retinal diseases to see if the optoretinogram reveals cell-level dysfunction that standard tests miss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include healthy volunteers and people with retinal conditions that affect rods or cones, such as age-related macular degeneration or other photoreceptor disorders, who can undergo detailed retinal imaging.
Not a fit: People with eyes that cannot be imaged well (for example, dense cataract, significant media opacity, or very unstable fixation) or whose vision loss is due to non-retinal causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this imaging approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this technique could detect photoreceptor dysfunction earlier or more precisely than current clinical tests, helping guide diagnosis and future treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Prior pilot work with adaptive optics OCT and early optoretinogram measurements has shown measurable light‑evoked signals in photoreceptors, but clinical application is still novel and under active study.
Where this research is happening
DAVIS, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS — DAVIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: JONNAL, RAVI S. — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- Study coordinator: JONNAL, RAVI S.
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.