Robotic retinal scan to measure photoreceptor layer thickness
Robotic OCT for automated mapping of outer retinal layer thicknesses
A robot-guided eye scan aims to automatically measure a thin layer of photoreceptor cells in people with or at risk for diabetic eye disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11175510 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get a non-invasive eye scan using a robotically aligned optical coherence tomography (OCT) device that adjusts how light enters the pupil to better reveal layers of the retina. The system is being developed to separate Henle’s Fiber Layer from the outer nuclear layer (ONL), which contains photoreceptor cell bodies. The device will automatically map ONL thickness across the retina to look for early photoreceptor loss linked to diabetic retinopathy. The work focuses on improving imaging so doctors can track neuronal changes that standard OCT machines currently miss.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diabetes, especially those with known or suspected diabetic retinopathy who can undergo OCT imaging, would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without retinal disease or those unable to undergo high-quality OCT imaging (for example due to very dense cataracts or inability to sit for imaging) are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors detect early photoreceptor loss in diabetic retinal disease and guide earlier interventions to prevent vision loss.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies and standard OCT research have suggested photoreceptor changes in diabetes, but this automated, robot-aligned approach to isolate the ONL in humans is novel and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Toth, Cynthia Ann — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Toth, Cynthia Ann
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.