Why? Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) affects approximately 4 out of every 1000 life born infants. However, this diagnosis cannot always be reached immediately. The reason for this is that examination of multiple impaired children is difficult and appropriate tests are largely lacking. In the Netherlands, guidelines for establishing the diagnosis CVI exist but are only partially evidence-based. The aim of this project is to come up with better guidelines based on tests that are suitable for this specific group of children and aligned with their developmental age.

How? In this project, we will perform clinical and new innovative measurements in children with CVI. By coupling these clinical measurements to the data obtained with new methods such as eye tracking and OCT of the optic disc (and MRI, if available) we will try to define CVI subgroups and redesign the large list of possible measurements in CVI. A majority of children with VI that are seen in our diagnostic center are diagnosed with CVI. The basis for this project is formed by a combination of results already obtained and an analysis of possible results for different CVI groups. You will be able to perform and analyse some of the new measurements.

Where? You will be located at the Diagnostic Center of Royal Dutch Visio (Nijmegen, the Netherlands) and supervised by ophthalmologist Dr. Nienke Boonstra. The diagnostic center will contribute expertise on techniques to assess visual functions in children with multiple impairments. Expertise on eye tracking and other non-verbal measures will be provided by the Donders Center in Nijmegen. During a secondment at the University Medical Center Groningen, you will become experienced in OCT analysis under the supervision of Professor Nomdo Jansonius after which a specific OCT analysis in CVI will be introduced at the Diagnostic Center of Royal Dutch Visio Nijmegen. A second secondment will take place in Italy (IIT).

What will you learn? The candidate will gain clinical insights in cerebral visual impairment and will obtain experience in evidence-based investigation of children with multiple impairments in a developmental approach. Recent techniques in OCT and eye tracking will have to be studied and will be applied in a tailor-made approach for specific CVI groups.

Who are we looking for? We are looking for a PhD student with and interest in children and especially children with multiple impairments.  The assessments have a biomedical and neuropsychological character and experience in clinical work with children can be useful. We prefer a candidate with a biotechnical or neuropsychological background who can work with Matlab. A willingness to master the Dutch language can be a plus to facilitate the dialogue with young children. 

References

• Solebo AL, et al. Arch Dis Child 2017;102:853–857. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2016-310532
• Richtlijn CVI
• Boot FH, Pel JJM, van der Steen J, Evenhuis HM. Cerebral Visual Impairment: which perceptive visual dysfunctions can be expected in children with brain damage? A systematic review. RDD Nov-Dec 2010;31(6):1149-59. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2010.08.001. Epub 2010 Sep 6