Better recovery predictions after cardiac arrest
Optimizing Recovery prediction after Cardiac Arrest (ORCA)
This project develops computer tools to give faster, clearer recovery outlooks for people who are comatose after a cardiac arrest.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11258049 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or a loved one is resuscitated after cardiac arrest and remains unconscious, this team will use data already collected in the ICU—like EEG recordings, heart and breathing measures, medications, and clinical notes—to look for patterns that signal recovery. They will train machine learning models on a very large, organized dataset of past patients to make predictions sooner and with clearer explanations. The team is taking special steps to avoid errors introduced by imperfect human labels so the tools are fairer and more reliable. The goal is to deliver usable bedside information that clinicians and families can use during early decision-making.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have been resuscitated after cardiac arrest and are comatose or suspected of having anoxic brain injury while cared for in an intensive care unit.
Not a fit: Patients who are already awake and recovering, those whose care did not include continuous monitoring like EEG, or those far removed from the acute event are unlikely to get direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could give families and doctors faster, more accurate information about chances of recovery to guide care decisions and planning.
How similar studies have performed: Some smaller studies using EEG and vital-sign data have shown promising signals, but comprehensive, bias-resistant tools for rapid bedside prognosis remain relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elmer, Jonathan — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Elmer, Jonathan
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 below.