Overview
Dr. McNabb is an engineer by training with a research focus on combining optical coherence tomography (OCT) and robots for use in the ophthalmology clinic. He recently joined the Department of Ophthalmology faculty after post-doctoral training and serving as a lead Research Scientist under Dr. Anthony Kuo at the Duke Eye Center.
He enjoys working closely with clinicians to combine technology and medicine. He is the principal investigator on an NIH R21 grant for “Assistive Robotically Aligning OCT and Laser Photocoagulation Therapy of the Retinal Periphery” in collaboration with Dr. Cynthia Toth. This grant will develop robotically aligned OCT to locate suspected retinal breaks in a patient’s peripheral retina before they can become vision threating detachments.
McNabb earned his B.S. from North Carolina State University in Electrical Engineering and completed his doctoral training at Duke University in the Department of Biomedical Engineering under the mentorship of Prof. Joseph Izatt.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Improving Artificial Intelligence–based Microbial Keratitis Screening Tools Constrained by Limited Data Using Synthetic Generation of Slit-Lamp Photos
Journal Article Ophthalmology Science · May 1, 2025 Objective: We developed a novel slit-lamp photography (SLP) generative adversarial network (GAN) model using limited data to supplement and improve the performance of an artificial intelligence (AI)–based microbial keratitis (MK) screening model. Design: C ... Full text CiteRobotics and optical coherence tomography: current works and future perspectives [Invited].
Journal Article Biomed Opt Express · February 1, 2025 Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is an interferometric technique for micron-level imaging in biological and non-biological contexts. As a non-invasive, non-ionizing, and video-rate imaging modality, OCT is widely used in biomedical and clinical applicati ... Full text Link to item CiteNew Directions for Ophthalmic OCT - Handhelds, Surgery, and Robotics.
Journal Article Transl Vis Sci Technol · January 2, 2025 The introduction of optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the 1990s revolutionized diagnostic ophthalmic imaging. Initially, OCT's role was primarily in the adult ambulatory ophthalmic clinics. Subsequent advances in handheld form factors, integration into ... Full text Link to item CiteRecent Grants
Swept Source (SS-) OCT system for Ex-Vivo Imaging, and specialized human postmortem full tissue sample package preparation
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by Janssen Research & Development, LLC · 2024 - 2028Self-aligning, motion-stabilized ocular imaging for eye care in urgent and emergent care settings
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by National Institutes of Health · 2023 - 2027Compact Auto-Aligning Multi-Modality Eye Imager to Diagnose Traumatic Eye Injury
ResearchCo Investigator · Awarded by United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity · 2024 - 2027View All Grants