AI-RONA Study
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
AI-Remote Optic Nerve Assessment (AI-RONA)
AI-RONA aims to determine the efficacy of an automated, artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted remote glaucoma screening and referral protocol in Federally Qualified Health Centers. The study will utilize implementation science to train existing medical staff to administer the screening protocol to patients at risk for Glaucoma-Associated Disease (GAD) and other eye conditions. The program’s effectiveness – including disease detection, referral rates, acceptance by patients and providers, and cost– will be compared with physician-guided screening methods and evaluated for national scalability. AI-based screening may facilitate early intervention for treating GAD and other eye conditions in clinics that lack direct vision care services.
Leadership
Cynthia Owsley, PhD, MSPH
- Principal Investigator
- Professor; Nathan E. Miles Endowed Chair of Ophthalmology
- Director, Clinical Research Unit
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Christopher Girkin, MD, MSPH, FACS
- Principal Investigator
- Professor
- Viterbi Family Department of Opthalmology
- Hamilton Glaucoma Center, Shiley Institute, University of California San Diego
Our Team
Massimo Fazio, PhD
- Associate Professor
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Gerald McGwin, PhD
- Professor and Vice Chairman, Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Associate Director, Clinical Research Unit, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Linda M. Zangwill, PhD
- Professor of Ophthalmology in Residence
- Richard K. Lansche M.D. and Tatiana A. Lansche Endowed Chair
- Co-Director of Clinical Research, Hamilton Glaucoma Center
- Director, Hamilton Glaucoma Center, Data Coordinating Center
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego
Mark Christopher, PhD
- Assistant Professor
- Shiley Eye Institute, University of California San Diego
Dawn Matthies, PhD
- Scientist III
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Mitzi Swift, BS, COA
- Clinical Coordinator III
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Mark Clark, MEng
- Imaging Manager
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Liyan Gao, PhD
- Database Analyst II
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Theodoros V. Giannouchos, PhD, MS, MPharm
- Assistant Professor
- Department of Health Policy and Organization
- School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Enrolling Details and Eligibility
Clinic medical staff will identify patients who qualify for AI-RONA screening using electronic medical records at the time of their scheduled healthcare visit. Those who qualify are at risk for developing Glaucoma Associated Diagnosis (GAD) and other eye conditions:
- African American or Hispanic > 40 years old
- Non-Hispanic white > 50 years old
- Anyone > 18 years old with diabetes
- Anyone > 18 years old with a GAD
- Anyone > 18 years old with a family history of glaucoma
Contact Us
For questions or more information about the AI-Remote Optic Nerve Assessment study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, please contact us.