# Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group Network

> **NIH NIH UG1** · JAEB CENTER FOR HEALTH RESEARCH, INC. · 2023 · $7,324,750

## Abstract

Project Summary / Abstract
This application is for a five-year extension of funding for the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group
(PEDIG) – a clinical research network of pediatric eye care providers that was formed to conduct clinical
research in strabismus, amblyopia, and other childhood eye disorders. The organization of the PEDIG network
enhances efficiency and quality while reducing costs by having a single infrastructure with the ability to conduct
concurrent and consecutive studies. Since its inception in 1997, PEDIG has conducted 41 randomized clinical
trials or prospective observational studies including 23 in amblyopia, 9 in strabismus, 3 in nasolacrimal duct
obstruction, 2 in myopia/hyperopia, 1 in retinopathy of prematurity, 1 in pediatric optic neuritis, 1 in pediatric
cataract surgery, 1 in corneal thickness, as well as several pilot studies. Each study has contributed
significantly to the evidence-base for pediatric eye care and has changed the way eye care is practiced by
addressing common and/or sight-threatening conditions faced by children. The proposed studies in the current
application would continue to advance the field in an evidence-based direction, improving care and quality of
life for children. By the time the funding requested in this application would begin, 2 new protocols will have
started – a randomized trial to evaluate laser refractive surgery for residual anisometropic amblyopia and a
randomized trial to evaluate low dose atropine drops for slowing myopia progression. Despite PEDIG's
numerous accomplishments, many important clinical questions and controversies in pediatric eye care and
strabismus remain. PEDIG has developed, or will be developing clinical trials to address many of these
questions including: (1) risk factors for non-response to amblyopia treatment, using occlusion dose monitors to
measure actual patch wearing time, (2) the utility of binocular treatment of amblyopia in older children and
adults, (3) the effect of bifocal treatment for amblyopia, (4) the effect of bifocal versus single vision lenses for
high AC/A esotropia, (5) the effect of partial versus full hyperopic correction in childhood esotropia, (6) whether
adjustable sutures have advantages over non-adjustable sutures for strabismus surgery, and (7) the optimum
dose of bevacizumab and optimum follow-up schedule for infants with retinopathy of prematurity. Specific aims
for the next 5-year funding period are to: (1) complete the 7 protocols that are expected to be in progress at
the time funding begins, (2) initiate 10 new protocols for common pediatric eye disorders and strabismus where
the current management does not have an evidence-based rationale, (3) continue to expand the PEDIG
network by soliciting new sites and encouraging involvement of young investigators, (4) continue to educate
eye care providers and research coordinators on the principles of clinical trials and good research practices,
(5) train eye care providers to be ...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10550237
- **Project number:** 5UG1EY011751-27
- **Recipient organization:** JAEB CENTER FOR HEALTH RESEARCH, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Susan Anne Cotter
- **Activity code:** UG1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $7,324,750
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1997-05-01 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10550237

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10550237, Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group Network (5UG1EY011751-27). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10550237. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*