Avanza UC Chile Project Analyzes Whether the Retina Can Help Detect Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Researchers from the UC Chile Faculty of Biological Sciences are investigating whether this eye tissue may contain biomarkers of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that could enable the development of diagnostic methods without the need for extensive clinical evaluations.
photo_camera “The retina is an extension of the brain. If we find a biological marker for OCD there, we could open up a new avenue to support its diagnosis,” explains faculty member Jorge Campusano. (Photo credit: Pexels)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects nearly 500,000 people in Chile. Currently, its diagnosis relies on clinical interviews and psychological evaluations, which can take several months.
A project led by researchers at UC Chile seeks to determine whether the retina may contain biological markers that would make it possible, in the future, for this process to be conducted through an eye exam.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects nearly 500,000 people in Chile. Currently, its diagnosis relies on clinical interviews and psychological evaluations, which can take several months.
A project led by researchers at UC Chile seeks to determine whether the retina may contain biological markers that would make it possible, in the future, for this process to be conducted through an eye exam.
“The retina is an extension of the brain. If we find a biological marker for OCD there, we could open up a new avenue to support its diagnosis,” explains Jorge Campusano, faculty member at the Faculty of Biological Sciences and the project’s main researcher.
This research, which could lead to a new way of aiding the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders through biomarkers present in the retina, is funded by Avanza UC Chile, the fund for cutting-edge research projects established by UC Chile and supported with its own resources, as part of the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan for contributing to the transformation of Chile.
Currently, the study is in its experimental phase using animal models. To simulate the conditions of the disorder, the researchers induce behaviors associated with OCD in rodents through the repeated administration of a dopaminergic drug, a compound that alters dopamine levels and replicates the chemical patterns of the disorder.
The team then analyzes the brains of the study subjects using spatial transcriptomics. This state-of-the-art technology allows researchers to map and measure the activity of thousands of genes directly at their original locations within the brain. By comparing these samples with samples from healthy brains, scientists can precisely identify which genes change their behavior and in which specific areas of the brain this occurs.
The key phase of the project involves linking these findings about the brain to the eyes. The researchers analyze the retinas of animals with OCD to detect whether there are any specific molecular or structural alterations correlated with the disorder.
“Our long-term goal is for specialists to be able to assess the risk or presence of OCD in a patient through a quick eye exam at the doctor’s office,” states Evelyn Avilés, professor at the Faculty of Biological Sciences and co-director of the project.
This project was selected in the 2025 Avanza UC Chile call for proposals which, in its first edition, funded 113 initiatives led by UC Chile faculty members, with an investment of nearly $3.8 billion. Currently, the fund has launched its second call for proposals, which will allocate $4 billion to support new cutting-edge research projects that could have an impact on the country. Applications have been open since the guidelines were published on June 30th.
