Ultrafast OCT angiography for diabetic retinopathy
Novel ultrahigh speed swept source OCT angiography methods in diabetic retinopathy
Using ultrafast OCT angiography to detect and monitor diabetic retinopathy in people with diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11138567 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are building a much faster OCT camera and analysis software that create detailed 3-D maps of blood flow in the retina. They will use ultrahigh-speed swept-source OCT to image capillaries, estimate blood-flow speeds, and generate wide-field volumetric images. The project combines hardware advances with image-processing and AI-based biomarkers and will compare the new images with current clinical imaging in people with diabetes. The team will test the approach on patient eyes and patient image data to see if it can spot early changes, predict progression, and track treatment response.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with diabetes, particularly those with known or suspected diabetic retinopathy or who are at high risk for retinal complications, would be the best candidates.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or those with advanced, irreversible retinal damage where imaging would not change management are less likely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could find sight-threatening retinal changes earlier and track treatment response more precisely to help preserve vision.
How similar studies have performed: Standard OCT angiography is already used clinically to visualize retinal vessels, but using ultrahigh-speed swept-source OCT to quantify capillary-level blood flow is a newer approach still under development.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fujimoto, James G — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Fujimoto, James G
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.