VisPA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding VISual Pathways in patients with visual loss after Acquired brain injury
IRAS ID
300037
Contact name
S Ajina
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
UCLH/UCL Joint Research Office Address
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 5 days
Research summary
Background: Hemianopia is the loss of half of the visual field (left or right) in both eyes. This visual loss is a very common yet debilitating consequence of acquired brain injury such as stroke. Current treatments aim to compensate for visual loss, but are not a cure and visual loss is considered permanent by six months. The purpose of this study is to understand how vision can be supported when the main visual pathway in the brain has been damaged, in order to develop novel rehabilitation approaches that target neural restoration of lost vision.
Primary Objective: To determine which measures of MRI structural and functional connectivity in the central visual pathways best predict visuoperceptual performance for a number of visual stimuli and protocols in patients with hemianopia and healthy age-matched controls.
Secondary Objective: To differentiate functional activity and connectivity between sub-regions of the lateral geniculate nucleus in patients with hemianopia and healthy age-matched controls using ultra-high 7T resolution MRI.
Health Condition: Chronic homonymous hemianopia due to acquired brain injury.
Study Type: Observational, basic science
Target Size: 50 participants with homonymous visual field loss due to acquired brain injury, and 50 healthy age-matched controls
Study Location: Wellcome Centre for Human Neuroimaging, UCL.
Participant Procedure: Participants will undergo at least 2 and a maximum of 6 appointments lasting up to 2 hours each for 3T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanning, visual testing, and Magneto-Encephalography (MEG). There is a possibility that participants will require additional MRI scans and/or visual tests if their visual deficits or visual-evoked signals are difficult to define, which could require up to six scan sessions in total. 10 patients and 10 healthy controls will also be required to undergo a single ultrahigh resolution 7T scan at a separate appointment.
Study Duration: 24 months
Funding: Wellcome Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship to Dr S Ajina (224655/Z/21/Z).REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SC/0408
Date of REC Opinion
11 Dec 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion