Non-invasive monitoring of fetal brain activity during labor
Official title: Non-invasive abdominal fetal electroencephalography for fetal assessment
Funded at Yale University · NIH-10989190 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to check how a baby's brain is doing during labor by using a safe, non-invasive method that measures brain activity through the mother's abdomen, aiming to catch any signs of potential problems earlier and more accurately, especially for babies at risk of conditions like cerebral palsy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $451,850 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD115285-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10989190 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals who are at risk of complications during labor, particularly those with conditions that may lead to fetal hypoxia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those whose pregnancies are not at risk for neurologic injury may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new method for assessing fetal brain activity using non-invasive abdominal electroencephalography (EEG) during labor. The goal is to improve the detection of fetal neurologic injuries caused by oxygen deprivation, which can lead to conditions like cerebral palsy. By analyzing brain signals instead of relying solely on heart rate changes, this approach aims to provide earlier and more accurate assessments of fetal well-being. The study will focus on developing algorithms to filter out noise and artifacts from the signals to make the readings interpretable.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of neurologic injuries in newborns by enabling timely interventions during labor.
How similar studies have gone: While non-invasive fetal EEG is a novel approach, previous studies have shown promise in using fetal brain activity monitoring to predict outcomes, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Emily — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Emily
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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.