# Early detection of glaucoma progression using a novel individualized approach

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $74,104

## Abstract

Parent project summary
While the presence and rate of glaucoma progression influences treatment decisions, the methods currently
available to detect and monitor progression are imprecise and do not allow clinicians to make accurate
assessments of the status of their patients. The long-term goal of this project is to reduce the time needed to
detect glaucoma progression. We developed an individualized model to detect progression that uses
structural and functional data jointly. The specific aims are 1) To determine whether an individualized
approach to identify glaucoma progression leads to earlier detection of progression compared to current
methods based on population statistics, 2) To determine which combination of structural and functional
parameters identifies glaucoma progression at the earliest point in time, and 3) To determine the shortest
period of time needed for our individualized approach to detect glaucoma progression. Specific aims 1 and 2
will use the data prospectively collected in two large multi-center NIH-funded studies: the Diagnostic
Innovations in Glaucoma Study and the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study. These studies are
ideally suited to achieve these aims because of the large sample of longitudinal structural and functional
data. For specific aim 3, we will prospectively collect data from glaucoma patients seen at our institution. Our
central hypothesis is that combining structural and functional data within the framework of an individualized
model will improve our ability to detect glaucoma progression more rapidly. The dynamic structure-function
model is innovative in that it is individualized and robust to assumptions about the nature of glaucoma
progression. We hypothesize that our individualized dynamic structure-function model will lead to the
detection of progression at an earlier point in time compared to other currently available methods. We also
hypothesize that different combinations of structural and functional tests will lead to the detection of
glaucoma progression at an earlier point in time compared to other combinations. Finally, we hypothesize
that our individualize approach will reduce the amount of time needed to detect glaucoma progression. This
project will have a significant impact on the clinical management of glaucoma patients, providing clinicians
with an accurate and precise method to detect glaucoma progression. This work is also highly relevant for
determining clinical trial endpoints when assessing the effectiveness of new medical or surgical treatment for
glaucoma.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10316505
- **Project number:** 3R01EY025756-05S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Lyne Racette
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $74,104
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10316505

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10316505, Early detection of glaucoma progression using a novel individualized approach (3R01EY025756-05S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10316505. Licensed CC0.

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