Collaborative Action to End Stillbirth: a patient-centered, AI-supported effort
Official title: Collaborative Action for Research to End Stillbirth (CARES)
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11388657 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large NIH-supported project at Columbia aims to use artificial intelligence and collaboration with people affected by stillbirth to identify pregnancies at high risk earlier and improve prevention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,227,305 |
| NIH project number | 5UG1HD119613-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11388657 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who are pregnant or planning pregnancy, especially those at higher risk for stillbirth due to race/ethnicity or other risk factors.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience immediate changes in care during the study period, but their input and data will help shape future practices.
What this research studies
CARES is building an integrated research center that centers people with lived experience of stillbirth. The project will use AI-enhanced tools and a multidisciplinary team to predict risk earlier in pregnancy and to understand why risk is higher for Black women. Researchers, patients, and communities will work together to create practical strategies that can be used in clinical care. The effort includes establishing shared resources and infrastructure to support ongoing, collaborative stillbirth research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier detection of high-risk pregnancies and targeted prevention efforts that reduce stillbirths.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows that collaborative, stakeholder-informed approaches can improve understanding and prevention of stillbirth, though this specific multi-institution, AI-enabled effort is novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Xiao — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Xu, Xiao
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Stillbirth Data Hub: Coordinating Center for Big-Data and AI in Stillbirth Research
A national data hub is being built to coordinate data, biorepository, and analytics for stillbirth research using advanced AI and machine learning.
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Genetic roots of stillbirth and developmental disorders
A genetic study from Massachusetts General Hospital will look for inherited and new DNA changes that contribute to stillbirth and related developmental disorders in families.
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Innovative Data Core for Stillbirth Research Center
A data and software core is being built to harmonize and analyze information from multiple sites to uncover why stillbirth happens and to support future prevention.
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Administrative Core for Stillbirth Research Coordinating Center
A coordination core is being funded to organize and manage data, collaborations, and administration to help stillbirth research move forward.
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Stillbirth Data Coordinating Center focusing on AI-powered insights
A national data hub is using advanced AI and machine learning to analyze stillbirth data and help researchers find patterns that could prevent or understand stillbirth.
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NOURISH: nutrition and health factors linked to pregnancy outcomes and stillbirth risk
Aimed at understanding how nutrition and stress-related health factors affect placental function to prevent stillbirths in pregnancies.
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.