Four-Chamber Echo Insights to Improve Cardiac Diagnosis
Official title: SCH: Four-Chamber Cardiac Anatomy and Flow Field Inference from Patient Echocardiography for Improved Cardiac Disease Diagnosis
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11578689 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI-based approach uses routine echocardiograms to map the heart’s four chambers and flow patterns, helping doctors diagnose acute heart conditions more accurately.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 20, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $313,948 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL192617-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11578689 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals presenting with acute cardiac symptoms who undergo routine echocardiography.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without acute cardiac conditions or who do not have echocardiograms may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses existing echocardiogram videos to build a patient-specific model of four-chamber heart anatomy, motion, and blood flow. The team will develop an interpretable machine-learning framework that works with standard echo images to reveal hidden physiological signals. The aim is to improve early diagnosis and risk stratification for acute heart diseases like Takotsubo syndrome and heart attack, potentially reducing the need for more costly imaging. Results could lead to clearer, more reliable diagnoses at the bedside.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with acute heart problems could receive faster, more accurate diagnoses using commonly available echo tests.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows AI can enhance interpretation of echocardiograms, but this project emphasizes patient-specific anatomy and flow with uncertainty-aware models.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kong, Fanwei — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Kong, Fanwei
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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-
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AI-powered echocardiography reporting with visual-linguistic models
A Mayo Clinic physician aims to train and grow an AI-enabled system that helps automatically interpret echocardiograms and generate reports for patients with heart problems.
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New approaches to making transesophageal echocardiography safer and easier for patients
A novel NIH-funded project aims to improve how transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is done, reducing sedation risks and expanding access for adults who need heart imaging.
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Diabetes-related gut imbalance and heart disease in diabetes patients
A study to understand how changes in gut bacteria caused by diabetes may raise the risk of heart disease and to explore ways to prevent it.
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.