# Targeted functional testing for retinal diseases based on patient reported outcomes

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $245,187

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
There are overwhelming numbers of psychophysical and electrophysiological tests to interrogate the
functioning of retinal and post retinal visual pathways, each with varying merits (sensitivity, specificity and
reproducibility). On the one hand, an investigator or clinician does not wish to omit any test that may show
disease onset, progression or treatment response. On the other hand, exhaustive testing, even in the context
of a clinical trial (such as gene therapy for a specific retinal dystrophy) imposes a testing burden on patients
that is impractical and undesirable. This K23 research utilizes an orphan disease model (Autoimmune
Retinopathy) to test the hypothesis that subjective improvement in symptomatology in response to
immunomodulatory therapy (IMT), can be characterized and quantified by a patient-reported outcomes
questionnaire, the “Progression of Retinal Degeneration Questionnaire” (PRDQ); and that this PRDQ can be
used to direct the targeted testing of the visual system, minimizing the testing burden for the patient, and
increasing the probability of detecting accurate objective changes reflective of disease state. Thus, the goal is
to develop and validate a clinical testing protocol for patients with Autoimmune Retinopathy (AIR) that will best
demonstrate objective treatment response and disease improvement or worsening, and reduce the
investigation burden and fatigue for patients by performing targeted testing. The project includes development
and testing of the protocol in three cohorts of patients: patients with AIR and, for comparison purposes, a
cohort of patients with noninfectious posterior uveitides (typically does improve with IMT) and a cohort of
patients with retinal dystrophies (typically does not improve and not treated with IMT).
The Candidate's long-term goal is to contribute major scientific advances to accurately diagnose, to perform
quantifiable phenotypic characterization of, and to identify optimal clinical endpoints for patients with
autoimmune and inherited retinal degenerations. The overarching goal of this five-year career development
research plan is for him to obtain the expertise and skills necessary to become an independent clinician-
scientist focused on integrating patient-reported outcomes on investigation (visual psychophysical and retinal
electrophysiological tests) and management of autoimmune and inherited retinal degenerations. The mentors
and advisors, from the University of Michigan and from across the United States, are leaders of their respective
fields and have expressed commitment to guiding the Candidate's development into an independent
investigator.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9985843
- **Project number:** 5K23EY026985-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Kanishka Thiran Jayasundera
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $245,187
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-01 → 2021-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9985843

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9985843, Targeted functional testing for retinal diseases based on patient reported outcomes (5K23EY026985-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9985843. Licensed CC0.

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