Wide-field high-resolution imaging of the cornea
Wide-field three-dimensional high-resolution imaging of the cornea
This project develops a new, non-contact way to take very detailed, wide-area pictures of the living cornea for adults with corneal conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262191 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work aims to build an imaging device that can capture confocal-like slices of the cornea across a large area using speckle illumination holography with polarization and phase-sensitive detection. The approach is designed to see much finer cellular and subcellular corneal structures than standard clinical OCT while avoiding the contact and small field-of-view limits of current confocal microscopes. The team plans to optimize the method for safe, routine use in clinical settings so it could be practical for eye clinics. If successful, the technique would be tested on adult human eyes to demonstrate image quality and usability.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with corneal disease, symptoms affecting the cornea, or those referred for detailed corneal imaging would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without corneal problems or those seeking treatments unrelated to corneal imaging (for example systemic therapies) would be unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow clearer, non-contact imaging of corneal cells to improve diagnosis and monitoring of corneal diseases.
How similar studies have performed: Existing clinical OCT and in‑vivo confocal microscopy have improved corneal imaging but have trade-offs, and this speckle holography approach is relatively new and not yet widely tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado — Boulder, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Piestun, Rafael — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Piestun, Rafael
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.