# Advanced CLAD PERG system with minimal patient preparation for clinical settings (Phase II)

> **NIH NIH R44** · JORVEC CORPORATION · 2023 · $479,128

## Abstract

Abstract:
Glaucoma is one of a number of optic nerve diseases which lead to retinal ganglion cells (RGC)
degeneration, ultimately manifesting in a functional loss of vision if left untreated. There exist a number
of therapeutic approaches to treat these conditions, but there are currently no clinical methods to
detect the onset of RGC dysfunction. The Pattern Electroretinogram (PERG) is the only established tool
to monitor RGC health in vivo in humans and experimental models of optic nerve diseases. The
monitoring of PERG responses can potentially provide earlier detection of degenerative retinal disorders
such as glaucoma, allowing for treatment paradigms to be initiated before irreversible functional vision
loss has occurred. A critical barrier to the widespread adoption of PERG for research and clinical use
involves suboptimal characteristics of conventionally available displays for eliciting visual responses. The
goal of the proposed project is to produce commercially available device for use in both vision research
and clinical applications, which is not only more compact, faster, cheaper and more user‐friendly, but
also provides a higher quality of information through innovative display technology and processing
techniques. As part of our Phase I efforts, we developed a miniaturized PERG visual display unit based
on variable polarization. Additionally, we used the CLAD deconvolution technique to extract additional
clinical information from the PERG response. Recording data from both glaucoma suspects and age
matched controls, the CLAD extracted data was more significantly different between the two
populations when compared to conventional techniques. Additionally, ROC curves generated from the
CLAD data had higher AUC values than the conventional techniques (0.897 using CLAD, versus 0.74 and
0.683 for conventional transient and steady state PERG). During Phase II, the following specific aims
will be pursued: 1) Refining the next generation PERG stimulator for humans. We will refine the
prototype developed in the phase I effort into a head mounted, near eye display configuration. We will
incorporate additional functionality, such as active fixation and pupil size monitoring and a disposable
dry electrode interface (based on Phase I effort) which will minimize patient preparation and increase
throughput and remove the need for sanitizing device between subjects. 2) Expanding CLAD in
Glaucoma. As part of our phase I effort, we showed that the CLAD technique has the potential to
increase the clinical utility of the well establish, but underutilized PERG response. In our Phase II effort,
we will expand testing in glaucoma suspects, looking at the effects of temporal presentation rate, and
the dynamic adaptation of the PERG response. Research has shown that both of these factors are
affected in patients with retinal dysfunction. Looking at these additional applications of the CLAD
analysis techniques in a larger patient pool will further expand o...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10698852
- **Project number:** 2R44EY029620-02A1
- **Recipient organization:** JORVEC CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Jonathon Anthony Toft-Nielsen
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $479,128
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10698852

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10698852, Advanced CLAD PERG system with minimal patient preparation for clinical settings (Phase II) (2R44EY029620-02A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10698852. Licensed CC0.

---

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