UTRGV School of Medicine students Alexa Nichols, Tori Sayers and Amin Ibrahim are studying how the eye may help physicians identify serious health conditions before patients begin showing symptoms.
The second-year medical students are working with Dr. Jesus Melgarejo, assistant professor of neuroscience at the UTRGV School of Medicine, on research that uses advanced retinal imaging to examine possible signs of neurological and vascular disease.
The work focuses on the retina, which contains small blood vessels that can be viewed noninvasively. Researchers are using technologies such as optical coherence tomography and OCT-angiography to study whether changes in retinal structure and blood flow reflect conditions affecting the brain and cardiovascular system.
Nichols is studying whether retinal thinning is associated with markers of cerebral small vessel disease found through brain MRI scans. The project uses participants from the RGV Alzheimer's Disease Center for Minority Aging Research and could help point toward simpler screening tools for neurological risk.
Sayers is studying whether eye images may correlate with blood biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease. Her work explores whether retinal imaging could eventually help identify disease indicators before physical symptoms appear.
Ibrahim is examining how vascular changes in the body relate to changes in the retina, including whether central blood pressure measurements and 24-hour monitoring provide stronger insight than a single office reading.
The research is especially relevant in the Rio Grande Valley, where diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease remain persistent public health concerns. Melgarejo said early detection tools that are accessible, affordable and noninvasive could improve opportunities for treatment and prevention.
The students presented their research at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, one of the leading conferences in vision science.
Source: UTRGV Newsroom
