Jose-Alain Sahel, MD, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Director of the UPMC Vision Institute, and Maysam Chamanzar, PhD, Dr. William D. and Nancy W. Strecker Career Development Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, established a partnership to develop a breakthrough imaging platform—Ultrasonically-Enhanced Optical Coherence Tomography (ue-OCT)—designed to overcome the fundamental limitations of current retinal imaging. By enabling clinicians to visualize the earliest biological changes in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), ue-OCT has the potential to shift care from reactive treatment to proactive preservation of vision.
AMD remains one of the leading causes of irreversible vision loss worldwide, affecting nearly 190 million individuals. Despite significant therapeutic advances, the effectiveness of available treatments depends heavily on early diagnosis—yet current imaging technologies are unable to detect disease at its earliest, most treatable stages.
Support from the Jack Buncher Foundation will play a catalytic role in accelerating this innovation from laboratory discovery to early clinical application, positioning Pittsburgh as a leader in next-generation ophthalmic imaging and transforming outcomes for patients at risk of vision loss.
Ue-OCT is a first-of-its-kind imaging approach that integrates ultrasound with light-based imaging to extend the depth and sensitivity of retinal visualization. The technology works by using ultrasound to gently modulate the optical properties of tissue, creating transient pathways that guide light deeper into the retina. In doing so, it enables high-resolution imaging of structures that were previously beyond the reach of conventional OCT.
The result is not simply an incremental improvement, but a fundamental expansion in what clinicians can see: early biomarkers of disease, including microvascular disruption and functional changes, can now be identified before symptoms emerge.
And because ue-OCT is designed to build upon existing OCT platforms, it is inherently scalable and well-positioned for clinical adoption—bridging innovation and real-world patient care.
This project is led by a multidisciplinary team of internationally recognized leaders in imaging science and clinical ophthalmology. Dr. Chamanzar is the technical lead. Vishal Jain, PhD, Research Scientist, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, is the translational lead. Dr. Sahel is the clinical lead.