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Noninvasive, Trial-Ready Multimodal Imaging Endpoints for Uveitis

Award Number: R34EY039557
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/04/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

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Noninvasive, Trial-Ready Multimodal Imaging Endpoints for Uveitis - Project Summary Noninfectious uveitis (NIU) is a leading cause of preventable blindness. Despite therapeutic advances, clinical trials continue to rely on fluorescein angiography (FA)—an invasive, time- consuming procedure with inconsistent interpretation—to assess inflammation. Noninvasive imaging modalities such as optical coherence tomography (OCT) and ultra-widefield fundus photography (UWF FP) are widely available but lack standardized definitions and validated endpoints suitable for trials. This R34 planning grant will establish the infrastructure, consensus framework, and analytic tools required to launch a multicenter clinical trial using noninvasive imaging endpoints in NIU. Aim 1 will develop a consensus-based inflammation severity rubric through a structured Delphi process and assemble a multicenter repository of NIU cases with matched OCT, UWF FP, and FA data for standardized annotation. Aim 2 will refine and calibrate machine-learning (ML) models to predict rubric-derived inflammation grades from OCT and UWF FP, using leave-one- site-out validation and clinician review of interpretability and usability. Aim 3 will finalize the Manual of Procedures (MOP), establish secure data pipelines, and conduct a multicenter feasibility study of data transfer, workflow, and retention to ensure readiness for a future randomized clinical trial. By replacing subjective, invasive FA-based grading with standardized, quantitative, and noninvasive biomarkers, this work will create a scalable framework for future uveitis trials. Deliverables—including the consensus rubric, harmonized imaging repository, validated ML models, and site-tested operational playbook—will establish the foundation for a future UG1 trial and accelerate the development of safer and more efficient clinical endpoints for NIU.


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 = $483,000 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS	1850 RESEARCH PARK DR STE 300	DAVIS	CA	95618	YOLO	USA	Vision Research	000	1	9/10/2026	NEW	$483,000
														Subtotal = $483,000

Grand Total All Awards = $483,000

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Noninvasive, Trial-Ready Multimodal Imaging Endpoints for Uveitis

Award Number: R34EY039557

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/04/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/31/2028

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