Fairer brain recovery predictions after cardiac arrest through U.S.–Brazil collaboration
Addressing an Inherent Bias in Neuroprognostication: A Collaboration Between the US and Brazil to Reduce the Impact of Self-Fulfilling Prophecy in Cardiac ARrEst (SPARE)
This project aims to find better ways to predict brain recovery for people who survive cardiac arrest but have possible brain injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11468064 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be followed after a cardiac arrest to track how your brain recovers over time. You would receive neurologic exams, brain scans, blood biomarker tests, and EEGs while researchers compare outcomes in U.S. and Brazilian hospitals. Because some Brazilian centers keep life support longer, the team can observe recoveries that might be missed when care is withdrawn early in other settings. Comparing these real-world outcomes helps the team figure out which tests truly indicate poor or good recovery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people who have regained circulation after cardiac arrest and are receiving critical care for suspected hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.
Not a fit: People without cardiac arrest or without suspected brain injury, those already declared brain-dead, or those whose care decisions are finalized immediately may not benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce premature withdrawal of life support and improve the accuracy of brain outcome predictions after cardiac arrest.
How similar studies have performed: Existing prognostic tools exist but have often been biased by early withdrawal of life support, and using international practice differences to reduce that bias is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston Medical Center — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Greer, David Matthew — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Greer, David Matthew
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.