AI-powered system to improve teamwork in cardiac surgery
Official title: SCH: Speech-based Technologies to Detect and Improve Interprofessional Team Behaviors in Cardiac Surgery
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11579799 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project is testing an AI-driven system that listens to team conversations during heart surgeries to spot teamwork patterns and give real-time feedback to improve patient safety.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $329,886 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL192754-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11579799 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Surveillance and improvement of cardiac surgery teams; surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and other OR staff.
✕Less likely to help
The technology focuses on team behavior during surgery and may not directly benefit patients if the team dynamics do not change.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop ITB PATH, an AI-based platform that automatically detects interprofessional team behaviors during cardiac surgery. By analyzing speech and interactions, it seeks to provide targeted feedback to help surgical teams communicate more effectively. The study will evaluate how these AI-driven insights influence teamwork quality and patient safety in real surgeries, with careful attention to privacy and ethics. If successful, the approach could make high-quality teamwork more consistent in operating rooms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the system could help surgical teams communicate better in real time, potentially reducing intraoperative errors and improving patient outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in AI-assisted teamwork shows promise but this program applies it specifically to cardiac surgery with real-time feedback.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chaspari, Theodora — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Chaspari, Theodora
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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.