Quick tool to identify what germ is causing a corneal ulcer
Official title: Automated Quantitative Ulcer Analysis (AQUA): Diagnosing Organism Types
Funded at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · NIH-11197618 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is building an easy-to-use tool that looks at corneal ulcers to quickly tell doctors whether bacteria, fungi, or other organisms are causing the infection for people with painful corneal infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $568,062 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY036418-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11197618 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with suspected microbial keratitis (painful corneal ulcers) who can have clinical photos and data collected at participating eye clinics.
✕Less likely to help
People with non-infectious corneal problems, infections from very rare organisms not represented in the data, or those who cannot access participating clinics may not benefit.
What this research studies
If I have a painful corneal ulcer, the team will develop an algorithm called AQUA that analyzes images and clinical data to classify the type of organism causing the infection. They will train and test AQUA using real patient photos and clinical records, then build a simple point-of-care decision tool clinicians can use when I come in. The researchers will check that the algorithm meets performance standards and refine how results are shown to eye doctors. The long-term aim is a low-cost, widely available tool that helps clinicians pick the right treatment faster and reduce vision loss.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors choose the right treatment faster and reduce vision loss from microbial keratitis.
How similar studies have gone: Image-based algorithms in ophthalmology are a relatively new approach but preliminary data for AQUA and other early studies suggest promise while broader validation is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Woodward, Maria Anneke — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Woodward, Maria Anneke
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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.