Tele-mentoring with an ultra-portable surgical microscope to treat cataracts in underserved communities
Official title: Development of a tele-mentoring system integrated into an ultra-portable surgical microscope to treat cataract in underserved populations
Funded at X-Biomedical, INC. · NIH-11408785 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A portable medical microscope with remote mentoring helps doctors in underserved areas perform cataract surgery more safely and effectively for people who need it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | X-Biomedical, INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newtown Square, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $889,154 |
| NIH project number | 2R44EY034066-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408785 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients in underserved communities who need cataract surgery and where local ophthalmologists will use GoScope with tele-mentoring.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in settings where tele-mentoring cannot be implemented or where surgery is not indicated may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to improve access to cataract surgery by combining an ultra-portable digital microscope with tele-mentoring so experienced ophthalmologists can guide local surgeons from afar. It continues a Phase I SBIR effort that demonstrated tele-mentoring and telestration capabilities and feasibility in a diverse multi-arm trial. The GoScope device is lightweight, affordable, and designed for use in low-resource settings, potentially expanding surgical capacity where trained eye doctors are scarce. Training and remote guidance could reduce vision loss due to cataracts for patients in Africa and other underserved regions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could enable more patients to receive timely cataract surgery with safer outcomes through remote expert support.
How similar studies have gone: Prior Phase I results showed feasibility of telementoring and telestration, indicating potential for broader use in ophthalmic training.
Where this research is happening
-
X-Biomedical, INC.
Newtown Square, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maltese, Matthew Rudolph — X-Biomedical, INC.
- Study coordinator: Maltese, Matthew Rudolph
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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.