UTRGV School of Medicine students are researching whether images of the eye can help detect early signs of neurological and cardiovascular disease, according to a June 22, 2026, UTRGV Newsroom story.
The project involves second-year medical students Alexa Nichols, Tori Sayers and Amin Ibrahim, who are studying subtle changes in the retina under the mentorship of Dr. Jesus Melgarejo, assistant professor of neuroscience at the UTRGV School of Medicine.
UTRGV said the students are using advanced retinal imaging, including optical coherence tomography and OCT-angiography, to examine how tiny blood vessels in the eye may reflect broader changes in the body. The university described the research as especially relevant in the Rio Grande Valley, where diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease remain major public health concerns.
The students have presented related research at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, according to UTRGV.
Source note: This brief is based on a UTRGV Newsroom story dated June 22, 2026.
Read the source: https://www.utrgv.edu/newsroom/2026/06/22/utrgv-school-of-medicine-students-explore-the-eye-for-early-signs-of-disease.htm
