NIH-funded research R01 grant

Using advanced imaging to find biomarkers for eye diseases

Official title: OCT-based functional biomarkers for degenerative diseases of the photoreceptor-RPE-choroid neurovascular unit

Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-10915567 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at new ways to take pictures of the eye to help doctors better understand and track eye diseases like age-related macular degeneration and inherited retinal conditions, so if you join, you’ll help improve how we diagnose and treat these issues.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California at Davis
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Davis, United States)
Project startSeptember 30, 2023
Project endJune 30, 2028
Funding year2024
Award (this year)$543,570
NIH project number5R01EY034340-02
Project IDNIH-10915567 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for participation include individuals diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration or inherited retinal degenerations.

Less likely to help

Patients with other unrelated eye conditions or those without any retinal diseases may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing new imaging techniques to identify functional biomarkers for degenerative eye diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs). By utilizing a next-generation optoretinography system, the study aims to provide noninvasive and objective measurements of retinal function, which could help in understanding disease progression and recovery. Patients may undergo advanced imaging procedures to assess their retinal health and contribute to the development of new diagnostic tools. The goal is to improve the understanding of these conditions and ultimately lead to better treatment options.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to the development of new diagnostic tools that improve the management and treatment of degenerative eye diseases.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using advanced imaging techniques for retinal diseases, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • University of California at Davis
    Davis, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Jonnal, Ravi S. — University of California at Davis
  • Study coordinator: Jonnal, Ravi S.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • UC Davis IGA Innovation Center

    A research center at UC Davis will study gene-edited livestock to improve animal health, safety, and policy through sharing genetic data and findings about genome edits in cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats.

    NIH research University of California at Davis · Davis, United States · NIH-11641870

  • Administrative Core of an equitable breast cancer screening program

    A national program headed from UC Davis is coordinating several research efforts to improve how breast cancer screening is done in community settings.

    NIH research University of California at Davis · Davis, United States · NIH-11622111

  • The role of novelty and surprise in learning for people with Alzheimer’s disease

    A study explores how surprising events affect memory and learning in people related to Alzheimer’s disease, using everyday tasks to see how the brain remembers new information.

    NIH research University of California at Davis · Davis, United States · NIH-11617755

  • Understanding how distraction affects students and how to measure it better

    This grant studies why distracted students, including those with ADHD, struggle in real-life learning and tests a clearer way to measure distraction in everyday settings.

    NIH research University of California at Davis · Davis, United States · NIH-11617018

  • California Partnership for Personalized Nutrition

    A California clinical center is testing personalized dietary approaches to improve blood sugar and health for adults with diabetes by using big data and AI to tailor meals.

    NIH research University of California at Davis · Davis, United States · NIH-11605720

  • Advancing gastric cancer care for Latinos through patient-derived tumor models

    Aimed at Latinos with gastric cancer, this project uses patient-derived tumor models to study how cancer biology and treatments work in real tumors.

    NIH research University of California at Davis · Davis, United States · NIH-11603175

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.