AI-Enhanced Neonatal Simulation for Nurse Training
Official title: AI and Haptics-Enhanced Augmented Reality for Next Generation Neonatal Simulation
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11452998 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new system uses augmented reality, AI and haptic feedback to create realistic virtual newborn patients to help nurses learn hands-on care and clinical decision-making.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $561,616 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EB038275-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11452998 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are nursing students and practicing nurses training in neonatal and pediatric care who will use AR-enabled simulations.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in clinical settings are not directly recruited for this project during training sessions.
What this research studies
This project at Vanderbilt aims to bring ultra-realistic virtual newborns into nurse education by combining AR visuals, generative AI, and tactile feedback. Trainees will interact with an on-demand virtual patient that shows customizable symptoms and behaviors, with AI driving appearance and responses to simulate real clinical scenarios. The effort follows experiential learning principles to build skills through realistic practice and reflection. By validating the system, the study hopes to show improved readiness for actual neonatal care situations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, nurses will gain more effective, flexible training with realistic newborn patients before caring for real infants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous simulation programs show benefit, but this project advances high-fidelity virtual newborns with AR, AI, and haptic feedback which is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sarkar, Nilanjan — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Sarkar, Nilanjan
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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.