Chatbot to help with prenatal genetic testing decisions
Official title: A Randomized Trial of Chatbot for Prenatal Genetic Counseling
Funded at Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island · NIH-11194281 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project offers a smartphone chatbot to help pregnant people understand prenatal genetic testing options and make informed choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $724,504 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD111426-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11194281 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are pregnant people offered prenatal genetic screening or diagnostic testing who are early in prenatal care and can use a smartphone or other mobile device.
✕Less likely to help
People without regular access to a smartphone or internet, those who prefer or require in-person genetic counseling for complex cases, or those with rare/complex genetic questions may not benefit from the chatbot alone.
What this research studies
If you're pregnant and facing decisions about screening or diagnostic tests for conditions like aneuploidy, cystic fibrosis, or spinal muscular atrophy, you could be offered a chatbot that explains the benefits and risks in plain language. People who join will be randomly assigned to use the chatbot or to get usual counseling, and the team will look at how well the chatbot improves understanding, confidence, and satisfaction. The chatbot is designed to work on mobile devices and to help with language barriers where possible. The goal is to make reliable, ACOG-based information easier to access when time with clinicians or genetic counselors is limited.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the chatbot could expand access to clear prenatal genetic information, improve understanding, and help more people make choices that match their values.
How similar studies have gone: Some digital decision aids have improved patient knowledge and decision confidence, but using a chatbot for prenatal genetic counseling is a newer approach with limited prior evidence.
Where this research is happening
-
Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tuuli, Methodius Gamuo — Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Tuuli, Methodius Gamuo
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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.