3D ultrasound mapping to locate sources of abnormal heart rhythms
Official title: Precision imaging of electromechanical coupling for non-invasive cardiac arrhythmia mapping
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11193775 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a fast, radiation-free 3D ultrasound method to find where irregular heartbeats start in adults with arrhythmias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $698,129 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL170606-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193775 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults (21 and older) with symptomatic cardiac arrhythmias who are being evaluated for electrophysiology testing or catheter ablation would be the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People under 21, those with poor ultrasound windows (for example due to severe obesity or lung disease), or those whose arrhythmia cannot be captured during the noninvasive scan may not benefit.
What this research studies
You would undergo a short (about 10–15 minute) noninvasive ultrasound scan called electromechanical wave imaging (EWI) that visualizes the heart’s electromechanical activity in three dimensions. The team at Columbia will build a full 3D version of EWI to show where abnormal rhythms originate and whether they are focal or reentrant. The method is designed to avoid CT radiation or costly MRI and to produce images that are easier for patients and doctors to understand. Results will be compared to standard ECGs and existing invasive mapping used during catheter ablation to check how well the noninvasive maps match.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors pinpoint arrhythmia sources noninvasively, potentially improving guidance for catheter ablation while reducing need for radiation-based imaging.
How similar studies have gone: Over the past decade the team has developed EWI and early pilot work has shown promise, but a full 3D noninvasive mapping approach is a newer advance.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wan, Elaine Y — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Wan, Elaine Y
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.