Smartphone retinal imaging for diabetic eye disease in Egypt
Smartphone-based Retinal Imaging for Diabetic Retinopathy Detection in Egypt
['FUNDING_R21'] · KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11290839
This project is building a low-cost smartphone camera plus AI to spot diabetic eye damage for adults with diabetes in Egypt.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (KENNESAW, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11290839 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I have diabetes, the team will use a small attachment on a smartphone to take pictures of the back of my eye. They will train and adapt deep-learning software to read those smartphone images even when image quality is lower than hospital cameras. The work will be piloted in Egypt to reach people who lack access to standard retinal screening. The goal is to increase local screening and refer people with concerning findings to eye doctors sooner.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (about 21 years and older) with diabetes in Egypt or similar low‑resource settings who have not had recent retinal screening are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without diabetes, those with eye problems unrelated to diabetic retinopathy, or patients already under specialist retinal care are unlikely to benefit from this screening-focused project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help find sight‑threatening diabetic retinopathy earlier and reduce blindness by increasing access to screening and timely referrals.
How similar studies have performed: Prior smartphone imaging and AI efforts have shown promise for retinal screening, but most algorithms were trained on high-quality fundus cameras so adapting them for lower-cost smartphone images is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
KENNESAW, UNITED STATES
- KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY — KENNESAW, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KARAKAYA, MAHMUT — KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: KARAKAYA, MAHMUT
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.