Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( 🔒 ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Need Help

Bilirubin-Induced Visuocortical Dysfunction in Children Who Had Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

Award Number: R01EY030537
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2019
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2029

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Bilirubin-Induced Visuocortical Dysfunction in Children Who Had Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia - Abstract Bilirubin is the cause of neonatal jaundice, affecting as many as 80% of newborn infants. It is a well-known neurotoxin at higher levels, but we have previously shown that a spectrum of damage to the extrastriate cortex occurs with increasing levels of bilirubin (the indirect type that crosses the blood brain barrier). Total bilirubin (TB), but also transcutaneous bilirubin (TcB) is measured as standard of care in infant care nurseries. Direct bilirubin, the conjugated version of bilirubin (bound to albumen) is independently elevated in uncommon clinical scenarios, none of which is present in any members of our cohorts. We showed dose-dependent Vernier acuity and contrast sensitivity measures to be abnormal. Both require extrastriate cortex for detection. Vision was measured electrophysiologically using the sweep visual-evoked potential (sVEP). Of note, grating acuity, which does not require extrastriate activity for detection, is normal in both preterm and term infants, at age 1 year. Damage to the extrastriate cortex lasts until at least 1-year corrected age, in both full term and premature infants. This deleterious effect is measured long after resolution of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Preliminary data in the form of time-to-identify a face suggests that damage to the extrstriate cortex may persist to at least age 5 years of age and affects higher order vision. If real, this finding could have ramifications for understanding social disorders that require looking at a face, such as infant bonding, and even infantile autism. However, our data is limited by a small sample size. We don’t know the extent to which the extrastriate cortex is affected. A positive finding in this study would have important clinical significance, since extrastriate cortex controls higher order vision processing, such as motion and form detection, face recognition, and even some forms of color vision. In this study, 2 cohorts of children premature and full term) whom we studied in infancy will have Vernier, contrast sensitivity grating acuity, face recognition, and motion processing measured electrophysiologically. The sample size we use will be sufficient to show an effect, if one is present, The study will expand our understanding of cortical (cerebral) visual insufficiency and suggest ways to prevent at least this type of cortical deficiency, by modifying bilirubin management in infants.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $424,260 )
2026	2026	THE SMITH-KETTLEWELL EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE	2318 FILLMORE ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94115	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Vision Research	000	5	7/20/2026	COMPETING CONTINUATION	$424,260
														Subtotal = $424,260

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2022	THE SMITH-KETTLEWELL EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE	2318 FILLMORE ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94115	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Vision Research	000	4	2/25/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $608,379 )
2022	2022	SMITH-KETTLEWELL EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	2318 FILLMORE ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94115	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Vision Research	000	4	8/19/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$608,379
														Subtotal = $608,379

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $651,171 )
2021	2021	SMITH-KETTLEWELL EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	2318 FILLMORE ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94115	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Vision Research	000	3	8/12/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$651,171
														Subtotal = $651,171

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $671,311 )
2020	2020	SMITH-KETTLEWELL EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	2318 FILLMORE ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94115	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Vision Research	003	2	8/3/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$671,311
2020	2019	SMITH-KETTLEWELL EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	2318 FILLMORE ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94115	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Vision Research	001	1	4/6/2020	NEW	$0
2020	2019	SMITH-KETTLEWELL EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	2318 FILLMORE ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94115	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Vision Research	000	1	11/20/2019	NEW	$0
2020	2019	SMITH-KETTLEWELL EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	2318 FILLMORE ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94115	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Vision Research	002	1	6/5/2020	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $671,311

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $704,311 )
2019	2019	SMITH-KETTLEWELL EYE RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE	2318 FILLMORE ST	SAN FRANCISCO	CA	94115	SAN FRANCISCO	USA	Vision Research	000	1	8/21/2019	NEW	$704,311
														Subtotal = $704,311

Grand Total All Awards = $3,059,432

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Bilirubin-Induced Visuocortical Dysfunction in Children Who Had Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia

Award Number: R01EY030537

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/01/2019

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2029

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer