Automated Image-based Biomarker Computation Tools for Diabetic Retinopathy

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In this STTR project, we present EyeMark, a set of advanced image analysis tools for automated computation of biomarkers for diabetic retinopathy (DR) using retinal fundus images. Specifically, we will develop tools for computation of microaneurysm (MA) appearance and disappearance rates (jointly known as turnover rates) for use as a biomarker in quantifying DR progression risk. The availability of a reliable image-based biomarker will have high positive influence on various aspects of DR care, including screening, monitoring progression, drug discovery and clinical research. Measuring MA turnover involves two labor intensive steps: careful alignment of current and baseline images, and marking of individual MAs. This process is very time consuming and prone to error, if done entirely by human graders. The primary goal of this project is to overcome these limitations by automating both the steps involved in MA turnover measurement: accurate image registration, and MA detection. In Phase I we have designed and developed a MA turnover computation prototype tool that robustly registers longitudinal images (even with multiple lesion changes) and effectively detects MAs (lesion level AUROC=0.92). The tool provides graceful degradation to confounding image factors by reporting MA turnover as a range, thereby capturing the inherent confidence in MA detection. By the end of Phase II we will develop a clinically validated end-to-end desktop software for robust, automated computation of MA turnover biomarker, that can work on the cloud to produces results in near constant time (for large datasets), and also provide intuitive visualization tools for clinicians to more effectively monitor DR progression.