# Adaptive Optics Fluorescence Lifetime Ophthalmoscopy (AOFLIO) in healthy people and with disease

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · 2021 · $439,776

## Abstract

Project Summary
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) is critical to maintaining the health and normal function of
photoreceptors, and is therefore involved in many retinal diseases that cause blindness. Throughout
life, RPE cells accumulate waste products that cluster into fluorescent lipofuscin granules. In Stargardt
disease, there is an acceleration of lipofuscin accumulation and changes in the molecular composition
of the lipofuscin granules. The fluorescence of lipofuscin makes it possible to visualize the mosaic of
RPE cells with an adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope. However, characterizing RPE cells
from structure and intensity alone does not provide sufficient information about the health of the cells.
Measurement of the time delay in fluorescence emitted from RPE is related to the nature of the
fluorophores and their environment including the composition of lipofuscin. Development of adaptive
optics fluorescence lifetime ophthalmoscopy (AOFLIO) of the human RPE mosaic will provide an
important tool to characterize RPE cells in both healthy and diseased eyes, where structural and
functional biomarkers may be used for RPE evaluation, as well as diagnosing and monitoring disease.
This proposal aims to develop and establish the ability of AOFLIO to detect cellular-level changes
across the macula associated with healthy aging and Stargardt disease. Fluorescence lifetime will be
measured across the retina by comparing AOFLIO in adult human subjects ranging in age from 20 to
70 years. The ability to identify RPE layer fluorescence lifetime changes in patients with Stargardt
disease (10-30 years) and progression over 3 years will be assessed by longitudinal AOFLIO
measurements in regions of atrophy, at the transition zone and in clinically-normal retina. Some of
these subjects will also be imaged with a clinical prototype for widefield fluorescence lifetime imaging
ophthalmoscopy (FLIO), generating one-of-a-kind comparative data. In addition, the current AOFLIO
instrumentation will be replaced with innovative new technology designed to improve light efficiency
and resolve finer features than currently possible. This project aims to evaluate the performance of
AOFLIO, preparing us for future investigations to establish AOFLIO as an important measure of
biomarkers of retinal degenerative disease, establishing AOFLIO as a prospective endpoint for use in
clinical trials by providing rapid feedback on the effects of potential new therapies.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10296770
- **Project number:** 1R01EY032116-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer J Hunter
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $439,776
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2026-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10296770

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10296770, Adaptive Optics Fluorescence Lifetime Ophthalmoscopy (AOFLIO) in healthy people and with disease (1R01EY032116-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10296770. Licensed CC0.

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