Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Eye Institute (NEI), under the Vision Research program (CFDA 93.867), awarded a $315,000 Project Grant to the University of Colorado-Denver effective July 1, 2026, through April 30, 2030. The award funds development of a multidisciplinary telemedicine care model designed to address critical gaps in chronic pediatric uveitis management and improve access to specialized care for affected children and families. The project will deliver remote clinical services from pediatric ophthalmologists, uveitis specialists, and pediatric rheumatologists, supported by local technicians who collect health data and imaging. The telemedicine infrastructure will reduce travel burdens for families in underserved and remote areas while enabling improved long-term monitoring of a rare, vision-threatening disease that frequently results in serious complications including cataracts, glaucoma, retinal damage, and blindness when inadequately managed.

Complementing clinical service delivery, the project will provide coordinated psychosocial support through virtual collaboration with social workers, psychologists, and parent support groups to address emotional and quality-of-life challenges for pediatric patients and their families. A community advisory group comprising caregivers, healthcare providers, social workers, advocacy organizations, and professional societies will guide model development and implementation, ensuring responsiveness to stakeholder needs. This multidisciplinary, technology-enabled approach directly supports NEI's mission to eliminate vision loss and improve quality of life through innovative research and clinical models that expand opportunities for affected populations.