Understanding Retinal Changes in Premature Babies to Help Their Vision
Official title: Analyzing Retinal Microanatomy in Retinopathy of Prematurity to Improve Care
Funded at Duke University · NIH-11061265 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to better understand the eye development in premature infants with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) to help prevent vision problems later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project start | March 10, 2016 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $584,528 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EY025009-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11061265 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research focuses on premature infants who are at risk for or have been diagnosed with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not premature infants or do not have retinopathy of prematurity would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Many premature babies are at risk for a condition called retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which can lead to vision problems. Current screening methods for ROP are often uncomfortable for infants and don't provide a full picture of how the retina, the light-sensing part of the eye, is developing. This project uses a gentle, non-contact imaging technique called OCT to get detailed pictures of the retina's tiny structures and blood vessels right at the baby's bedside. By getting clearer, more complete information about the eye's development, we hope to find better ways to care for these infants and protect their vision.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to more comfortable and accurate ways to screen for ROP, potentially improving long-term vision and neurodevelopmental outcomes for premature infants.
How similar studies have gone: While current ROP screening methods exist, this research introduces a novel, infant-friendly imaging approach to gather more detailed information about retinal microanatomy.
Where this research is happening
-
Duke University
Durham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Toth, Cynthia Ann — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Toth, Cynthia Ann
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Butyrate-based approach to prevent vision loss in premature babies with retinopathy
A study is exploring whether increasing butyrate levels can prevent vision-damaging retinopathy in premature infants by addressing gut bacteria and metabolic pathways.
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TopoROP: Multi-View Analysis to Diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity
A new AI-based tool analyzes retinal images to help doctors diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity in premature babies and other patients at risk.
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Long-term endotypes of prematurity-related lung disease in former preemies
A long-term study looking at why some babies born very early develop lasting breathing problems and how their genes might explain these different paths.
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Deep learning tool to diagnose retinopathy of prematurity in newborns
A new AI-based diagnostic tool uses eye images from premature babies to help clinicians identify treatment-needed retinopathy of prematurity.
-
Cortical dystonia in kids born early
Researchers are studying why premature birth leads to dystonia in cerebral palsy and looking for new ways to help children and adults who have this condition.
-
AI-enhanced wide-field eye scans for detecting retinopathy of prematurity
Using faster handheld wide-field eye scans plus AI to find early signs of retinopathy of prematurity in premature babies and help guide treatment.
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.