BEACON: AI language tool to help caregivers understand what’s happening with an older family member in critical care
Official title: BEACON: Bilingual AI to Enhance Caregivers' Comprehension of Older Patients' Clinical Course in Critical Care
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11447349 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A bilingual AI tool helps family caregivers of older adults in critical care understand their loved one’s medical course, using clear summaries of the hospital data in English and Spanish.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $785,807 |
| NIH project number | 1R01AG097565-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11447349 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Caregivers of adults aged 65 and older who are in critical care and may benefit from bilingual, plain-language summaries of the patient’s clinical information.
✕Less likely to help
Caregivers who do not need bilingual support or who are not engaged in the patient’s care may not experience direct benefit.
What this research studies
If you’re a family caregiver, BEACON aims to turn complex medical information from the patient’s electronic records into simple, short updates in both English and Spanish. The project will develop an AI-based tool that can translate and summarize critical care details so caregivers can follow decisions and communicate with doctors more easily. It focuses on making information accessible, reducing language barriers, and supporting informed choices for the patient. The study will test how well the tool works in real clinical settings and refine it based on caregiver feedback.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, caregivers will understand their loved one’s status and care plan more clearly, reducing stress and helping them participate in decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Similar AI-based summarization and translation approaches have shown promise in improving information access for patients and families in healthcare settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Yanjun — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Gao, Yanjun
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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.