Investigating how biases affect predictions of recovery in cardiac arrest patients
Official title: 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)
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-11013382 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help doctors make better decisions about life support for people who survive cardiac arrest by comparing how long treatments are given in the US and Brazil, so they can better understand who might recover and who might not.
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 start | January 22, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $532,674 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS128342-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11013382 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have survived a cardiac arrest and are undergoing assessment for neurological recovery.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a cardiac arrest or those with irreversible neurological damage may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to improve the accuracy of predicting neurological outcomes in survivors of cardiac arrest by addressing biases that can lead to premature decisions about life support. It will compare practices in the US and Brazil, where cultural differences affect how long life-sustaining treatments are maintained. By observing patients in Brazil, where life support is often continued longer, researchers hope to gather unbiased data on recovery potential. The study will utilize various assessment tools, including neurological exams and imaging, to identify true predictors of recovery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate predictions of recovery for cardiac arrest survivors, potentially improving their chances of receiving appropriate care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that addressing biases in medical prognostication can lead to improved patient outcomes, suggesting that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Greer, David Matthew — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Greer, David Matthew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Multi-center study on how ventilation during CPR relates to cardiac arrest outcomes
A large, real-world study will look at how ventilation during CPR affects survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in adults.
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Specialized post-arrest care after cardiac arrest
A large, nationwide effort tests whether transferring cardiac arrest patients to a specialized post-arrest care center improves recovery compared with usual care.
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Reduce bias in predicting brain recovery after cardiac arrest
This project aims to make brain-recovery predictions more accurate for people who survive cardiac arrest by comparing outcomes between the United States and Brazil.
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Fairer brain recovery predictions after cardiac arrest through U.S.–Brazil collaboration
This project aims to find better ways to predict brain recovery for people who survive cardiac arrest but have possible brain injury.
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Improving predictions of brain recovery after cardiac arrest
This project compares outcomes after cardiac arrest in the U.S. and Brazil to learn which tests best predict who will regain brain function for people who survive cardiac arrest.
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Reducing biased predictions of brain recovery after cardiac arrest
This project looks at cardiac arrest survivors in the US and Brazil to find more accurate ways to predict brain recovery and avoid premature stopping of life support.
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.