Improving ultrasound use for diagnosing abdominal pain in rural children
Official title: Facilitating Ultrasound Utilization for Diagnosis of Abdominal Pain in Rural Children
Funded at Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · NIH-11374059 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests ways to bring affordable, radiation-free ultrasound to kids with belly pain in rural areas.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $446,046 |
| NIH project number | 1R21MD020769-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374059 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children aged 0-11 with abdominal pain who receive care in rural or Appalachian healthcare settings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients in non-rural or non-Appalachian areas may not directly benefit from these models.
What this research studies
Many rural children with abdominal pain don’t have easy access to ultrasound, so doctors often rely on CT scans that expose them to radiation and higher costs. The study will compare three models to increase ultrasound use and reduce radiation exposure, using a practical implementation framework. The aim is to translate findings into a national approach that specifically helps Appalachian communities. The work will consider how best to reach, adopt, and maintain ultrasound imaging in real-world pediatric care settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower radiation exposure and costs for rural children while speeding accurate diagnoses.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows ultrasound can reduce radiation, but this project tests real-world implementation in rural populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Van Arendonk, Kyle J — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
- Study coordinator: Van Arendonk, Kyle J
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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.