Comprehensive imaging and quantification of blood flow for investigating ocular diseases without additional contrast agent

Project Summary AbstractPhysical Sciences IncPSIin collaboration with New York UniversityNYUSchool of Medicine proposes to develop a novel ophthalmic imaging platform for characterizing retinal morphology and monitoring ocular blood flow abnormalitiesThis platform will combine non invasive measurements of retina choroid structure and ocular blood flow based on optical coherence tomographyOCTand widefield semi quantitative global flow visualization using line scanning Doppler flowmetryLSDFThe combination of these two imaging modalities within the same imaging platform enables comprehensive assessment of blood flow in the retina and choroidThis novel imaging platform will enable imaging studies in animals and human subjects with normal vision or with various retinal diseasesPrior PSI experience in developing advanced ophthalmic imaging systems coupled with our collaboratorsandaposexpertise in Ophthalmology will be leveraged to ensure the successful outcome of this important Randamp D programA feasibility study will be performed during the Phase I program by imaging normal and diseased rodent models using a benchtop instrumentA clinical prototype instrument will be manufactured and tested clinically in Phase II in the NYU population of patients to highlight hemodynamic retinal biomarkersWe choose to focus on diseases that are the leading causes of blindness includingage related macular degenerationAMDdiabetic retinopathyDRand glaucoma to demonstrate the clinical utility of our novel systemWe will recruit healthy individuals to set a referenceand subjects with AMDDRand glaucoma at a wide range of disease severityIn all of these conditionsthe ability to record in vivo blood flow will provide novel information that will open new diagnostic and treatment avenues Project NarrativeDegenerative neurovascular diseases of the eye often have either hemodynamic consequences or causesthough the mechanisms are poorly understoodImproved blood flow imaging diagnostics will aid in the detection and management of many eye conditionsand foster new research for understanding the major causes of blindnessAMDDRand glaucoma