R&D Programs
Perimetry
The Visual field (VF) test is a widely used, noninvasive technique for evaluating pathology or dysfunction in the visual pathways. It is one of the basic diagnostic tools of ophthalmology. The VF test, in conjunction with other diagnostics, is especially useful in the detection of glaucoma and for following its progression.
VirtualEye® perimeter – Head-mounted apparatus for the visual field test
The goal of this effort is to develop a head-mounted apparatus for the visual field test and to demonstrate its clinical application. This light-weight, low-cost device permits unprecedented freedom of movement of the head and body, thus minimizing or even eliminating the stress and fatigue commonly associated with conventional visual field testing systems. A flexible, computerized platform and state-of-the art display technology enables easy re-configuration of the system to accommodate emerging and future test scenarios. Incorporation of a gaze tracking device increases test reliability and accuracy, and enables hands-free operation.
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Virtual reality goggles are used by VirtualEye® perimeter. |
Bioinformatics
Computational framework for analysis of microarray gene expression data
DNA microarray technology enables simultaneous profiling of thousands of transcripts expressed in a particular organism, cells or tissues. Its current applications include gene profiling, gene regulation studies, disease biomarker discovery, toxicogenomics, pharmacogenomics, and clinical diagnostics and prognosis. Identification of transcripts that are differentially regulated in response to studied experimental conditions is one of critical steps in analysis of DNA microarray data. Currently employed statistical approaches become particularly ineffective for experiments with small number of biological replicates, which are prevalent in the differential expression studies.
BioFormatix is developing a novel numerical framework for identification of differentially expressed transcripts, with emphasis on analysis of experiments with small number of replicates and genes with moderate levels of expression. These new analysis methods should improve the overall effectiveness of this technology and reduce the cost of microarray gene expression studies.
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Example of gene ontology analysis of differentially expressed genes (output of GOEAST program). |