The Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s Yissum Research Development Company has developed a novel method to diagnose retinal micro-aneurysms that pose a high risk for leakage, a primary cause of diabetic retinopathy.
The novel method has been patented by Yissum and will offer early diagnosis and treatment of the condition by minimizing damage and saving vision.
A team of scientists including Dr. Yaakov Nahmias from the Center for Bioengineering at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem developed a computational method to identify microvascular regions with high risk of leakage based on fluid dynamics that will help ophthalmologists to identify microaneurysms with high risk of leakage using adaptive optics.
The team also found that high risk is correlated with increased level of a protein called Von Willebrand factor (vWF), which is linked with early development of diabetic retinopathy.
Retinal microaneurysms reduce visions as they eventually cause fluid leakage from blood vessels and retinal edema.
However, localized leakage can be detected and treated using laser ablation in order to slow the progression of diabetic blindness.
Yissum CEO Yaacov Michlin said: "The novel method developed by Nahmias will allow experts to rapidly identify and treat those microaneurysms that pose a high-risk of leakage, minimizing edema and saving vision. Moreover, the scientists open the route for targeted therapy or clinical detection using vWF, which they show serves as a protein marker for risky regions in the retina.
"By enabling early detection of high-risk areas, treatment of diabetic retinopathy can shift from a reactive treatment to a preventive one, not only preventing blindness but also saving millions of dollars in medical costs," added Michlin.
Established in 1964, Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem protects and commercialises the Hebrew University's intellectual property.