Noninvasive electromechanical imaging to map abnormal heart rhythms
Official title: Arrhythmia mapping using electromechanical wave imaging
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11308254 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tries an ultrasound-based imaging technique to find where abnormal heartbeats start in people with atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2017 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $695,547 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL140646-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11308254 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, or other symptomatic arrhythmias who can come to the study site for imaging, especially those undergoing cardioversion or ablation.
✕Less likely to help
People without arrhythmias, those needing emergency care, or those who cannot travel to the study site are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You would undergo a noninvasive ultrasound-like scan called electromechanical wave imaging (EWI) that captures how electrical activation produces heart muscle motion. The team will use these images to create maps showing where abnormal rhythms begin and how they spread across the heart. They will compare the imaging maps to clinical events such as cardioversion or ablation outcomes to see if the images predict recurrence. The goal is to refine a painless test that could guide treatment without needing invasive catheter mapping.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors pinpoint arrhythmia sources and better predict who will relapse after treatments like cardioversion or ablation, potentially reducing repeat procedures.
How similar studies have gone: Early pilot studies of electromechanical wave imaging have shown promise for noninvasive mapping, but larger clinical validation is still needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Konofagou, Elisa E. — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Konofagou, Elisa E.
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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.