Smith-Kettlewell's research depends on the participation of patients and healthy volunteers of all ages.
Financial compensation is available.
If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and would like to learn more about a project or find out if you are eligible to participate, please contact us at
415-345-2062 or email participate@ski.org
or
SIGN UP HERE.
Research topics include:
- Assistive Technologies for people who have visual impairments
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- Juvenile Macular Degeneration (JMD or Stargardt's Disease)
- Amblyopia (“Lazy Eye”)
- Strabismus (misaligned or crossed eyes)
- Anisometropia (unequal refractive power)
- Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI)
- Blindness
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (concussion or whiplash)
- Light Sensitivity
- Hearing Loss
- Visual Development in Infants
- Visual Comparison of Twins
- Type 2 Diabetes
Currently, the following studies are seeking participants:
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Reading, Vision Function and Disease Progression in Early to Intermediate AMD
This study focuses on people (age 55+) who have been diagnosed with early to intermediate "dry" age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in one or both eyes, who can still read small print (with glasses if necessary) under good lighting conditions.
The main goal of this study is to determine whether reading performance and other non-standard vision function measures can be used to predict which participants will go on to develop advanced AMD.
If you are older than 55 years with either healthy vision or early/intermediate AMD, you may be eligible to participate in this study. Subjects are compensated $20/hour, travel reimbursements are available.
Contact:
Dr. Susan Hewlett
(415) 345-2136
susanh@ski.org
Dr. Lori Lott
(415) 345-2121
lott@ski.org
Spatial Vision in Amblyopia
The purpose of this research study is to learn more about how amblyopia (sometimes called "lazy eye"), strabismus (misaligned eyes), and anisometropia (unequal refractive power) affect the visual system and to evaluate the visual deficits in both amblyopic eye and non-amblyopic eye. If you are an adult with a history of amblyopia or strabismus, you may qualify. In addition, some adults with normal vision are needed as control subjects.
Contact:
Margaret McGovern
415-345-2075
margaret@ski.org
Chuan Hou
415-345-2073
chuanhou@ski.org
Computer Vision-based Smartphone Apps and Other Assistive Technology
This research focuses on the use of computer vision and other sensor-based methods of extracting visual and other information from indoor or outdoor scenes, or from existing images, and of conveying this information using audio, visual and/or tactile output to be useful to blind and low vision individuals. Examples of current studies include the development of camera-enabled smartphone apps to help persons who are visually impaired receive wayfinding guidance indoors and to make physical objects (such as documents, maps, devices and 3D models) more accessible by providing real-time audio feedback in response to the location on an object that the user is touching.
If you are 14 years or older and are blind or visually impaired, you may be eligible to participate in this study. (If you are between 14-17 years of age, you will need permission from your parent or guardian to participate in the study.) Volunteers are compensated $30/hour in addition to travel costs.
Contact:
James Coughlan
415-345-2146
coughlan@ski.org
Touch Research
This research investigates how people use their hands and fingers to gather information about objects and space.
We are looking for adult participants who:
1. have normal vision (i.e., do not have a visual impairment)
2. have a visual impairment that requires them to use braille and tactile graphics to access typically printed materials
3. have low vision, who use video enlargement or large print to access typically printed materials, and do not have loss of sensitivity in their hands and fingers
The participant will be asked to complete a 1-4 hour session of testing with objects or tactile displays. Participants may be requested to complete more than one session. Participants will be compensated $20 per hour of participation.
Contact:
Natalie Stepien-Bernabe
nstepien@ski.org
Advanced Spatiomotor Rehabilitation & Brain Mechanisms in Blindness & Visual Impairment
This study investigates novel rehabilitation methods and their effect on brain plasticity, spatiomotor and spatial memory abilities in individuals who are blind or have low vision. It involves a unique (entirely non-visual) training method for drawing (2 hours/day for 5 days), pre- and post-training tactile/haptic testing, as well as functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). It is a lot of fun!
Subjects are compensated up to $30/hour and will be reimbursed for transportation and parking.
Contact:
Dr. Lora Likova
(415) 345-2066
lora@ski.org
Kristyo Mineff
(415) 345-2105
mineff@ski.org
Concussion/Traumatic Brain Injury and Light Sensitivity
This study investigates the effects of concussion or blows to the head on light sensitivity/photophobia. If eligible to participate, you will view colored visual displays while brain responses are measured non-invasively using electroencephalography (EEG) and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI).
If you have had a recent concussion or loss of consciousness due to a head injury, particularly if you still have light sensitivity as a result, you may be eligible to participate in this study. Subjects are compensated up to $30/hour and will be reimbursed for transportation and parking.
Contact:
Dr. Lora Likova
(415) 345-2066
lora@ski.org
Kristyo Mineff
(415) 345-2105
mineff@ski.org
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If you have questions regarding a research study, the researcher or his/her assistant will be glad to answer them.
You may seek information from the Institutional Review Board--established for the protection of volunteers in research projects--by emailing the Smith-Kettlewell Institutional Review Board.
