Due to ageing, the impact of vision threatening diseases such as diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) on the health care system will only increase.
Within a joint TNO/VU TKI project we will develop techniques to quantitatively assess the oxygen saturation status of the retinal microvasculature. Reduced blood oxygen levels may lead to hypoxia, which is one of the key drivers of the formation of new blood vessels. These new blood vessels are often leaky, which leads to complications such as vision loss and, ultimately, to blindness. The development of techniques to detect the onset of retinal hypoxia will thus allow timely therapeutic interventions that will prevent vision loss.
In this project, we will develop a multi-color scanning laser ophthalmoscope (mcSLO)-based oximeter. The mcSLO will be a versatile research tool that provides freedom in the selection of imaging wavelengths and allows different implementations of light delivery and collection to and from the retina. For the image analysis we will develop novel oximetry algorithms. The performance of the system and algorithms will be validated on model eyes with flow channels containing blood of controlled flow velocity and oxygen saturation. Clinical pilot studies of DR patients, AMD patients and healthy volunteers will be performed to demonstrate local variations in retinal oxygenation between DR, AMD and healthy retinas.
For this project, we are looking for a PhD student who will work on the optical instrumentation, the model eye development, the oximetry algorithm development and on the technical and clinical validation. The research will be conducted at 2 locations, TNO in Delft and VU in Amsterdam. The candidate will be part of the PhD program of the Biomedical Physics Group of the VU, under joint supervision of Prof. dr. A. Amelink and Prof. dr. J.F. de Boer.
Your duties
- The PhD student will build the mcSLO system and integrate it with a custom-built high-speed tracking system that allows to compensate for eye motion
- The PhD student will model light-tissue interactions to optimize the oximetry algorithms, and build model eyes that are required for the validation of the system
- The PhD student will assist in the clinical pilot studies by operating the hardware and performing the image analysis, under supervision of ophthalmologists
- The research will be conducted at 2 locations, TNO in Delft and VU in Amsterdam. The candidate will be part of the PhD program of the Biomedical Physics Group of the VU, under joint supervision of Prof. Dr. A. Amelink and Prof. Dr. J.F. de Boer