Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2007

Mentor: Rafael L. Ufret-Vincenty, MD
Department: Ophthalmology
Room number: E7.244A
Mail Code: 9057
Phone number: 214-648-3770
E-mail: Rafael.Ufret-Vincenty@UTSouthwestern.edu
Project title: Hyperspectral imaging of the retina.
Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 122006-018
Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Project Type -patient-based research (will likely include animal-based work; pending IRB)
Brief Description of Project: The long term goal of this project is to transform the concept of hyperspectral imaging into a clinically-relevant tool in the field of ophthalmology. Hyperspectral imaging is a safe, non-invasive technique that may help ophthalmologists to achieve an earlier diagnosis and increase the accuracy of treatment of highly prevalent eye diseases. It could be easily interpreted by general ophthalmologists and lead to early referrals to subspecialty clinics for treatment. It could also help subspecialists determine which patients would benefit most from specific therapies and map out the areas to treat. We will optimize and validate a prototype developed by Dr. Karel Zuzak through a collaborative work between Rafael Ufret-Vincenty (UTSW) and Karel Zuzak (UT Arlington). We will obtain hyperspectral images from patients with diabetic retinopathy, retinal vascular occlusions and age-related macular degeneration. Computer software will compare the reflection spectra of the blood in the retinal vasculature with the spectra produced by different blood chromophores and will thus determine the level of oxygenation of the blood. This will allow us to map out areas of ischemia. We will also obtain hyperspectral images from patients with macular degeneration to try to correlate these with the health of the retina and underlying retinal pigment epithelium. Since changes in the levels and distribution of the macular pigments are thought to occur early in the development of macular degeneration, this technique may allow us to intervene early in the process and improve the therapeutic outcome. In order to calibrate the device we will obtain hyperspectral images of the retinas of rabbits under different oxygenation conditions. The hyperspectral measurements of hemoglobin oxygen saturation on retinal arteries as they enter the eye will be calibrated against the measured oxygen saturation in arterial blood gases samples obtained simultaneously. The effect of fundus pigmentation and media opacities in the measurements will also be analyzed.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:
" Ufret-Vincenty RL, Singh RP, Lowder CY and Kaiser PK. Cytomegalovirus retinitis after fluocinolone acetonide (Retisert) implant. Am J Ophthalmology. 2007 In print
" Ufret-Vincenty RL, Miller JW, Gragoudas ES. Photosensitizers in photodynamic therapy of choroidal neovascularization. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2004; 44(3):63-80.
" Ufret-Vincenty RL, Chen RJ, and Azar DT. Corneal Flap Displacement and Drift in LASIK: Comparison of Hansatome and Automated Corneal Shaper Microkeratomes. Am J Ophthalmol 2002; 134(5):701-6.
" Ufret-Vincenty RL, Quigley L, Tresser N, Pak SH, Gado A, Hausmann S, Wucherpfennig KW, and Brocke S. In vivo survival of viral antigen-specific T cells that induce experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. J. Exp. Med. 1998; 188:1725-1738.
" Zuzak KJ, Gladwin MT, Cannon RO 3rd, Levin IW. Imaging hemoglobin oxygen saturation in sickle cell disease patients using noninvasive visible reflectance hyperspectral techniques: effects of nitric oxide. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2003; 285(3):H1183-9.

Return to Medical Student Research Page