AI-assisted heart failure diagnosis in Rwanda using focused ultrasound
Official title: Implementing AI-supported training to scale quality diagnosis and management of heart failure in Rwanda
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-11625876 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An NIH-funded project will test whether AI-enhanced, easy-to-use heart ultrasound can help non-experts diagnose and manage heart failure in Rwanda.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $186,880 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HL178903-01A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11625876 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are adults with suspected heart failure in Rwanda who may benefit from AI-assisted ultrasound and nurse-led management.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with conditions not related to heart failure or those unable to provide consent may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to bring reliable heart failure diagnosis to rural Rwanda by using a simplified heart ultrasound protocol operated by nurses with AI-guided image capture and automatic measurements. After brief training, clinicians can acquire high-quality images, interpret them with an AI-augmented protocol, and start evidence-based care. The study will compare the AI-enhanced approach to the current training, looking for improved diagnostic accuracy and reduced need for expert trainers. The team will explore barriers and facilitators to implementing this AI-driven workflow in low-resource settings. The research follows an EPIS-guided plan to adapt and scale the approach in Rwanda and similar LIC contexts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive faster, more accurate heart failure diagnosis and treatment even where specialists are scarce.
How similar studies have gone: Previous non-AI focused training using simplified ultrasound showed feasibility; this study tests a novel AI-enhanced approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kwan, Gene Fazil — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Kwan, Gene Fazil
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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.