Predicting newborn seizure risk with smart computer tools
Official title: Prediction of Risk of Infant Seizures using Machine Learning (PRISM)
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11439839 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A project to develop a real-time, user-friendly model that uses short brainwave data and basic patient information to predict seizures in newborns at risk of brain injury.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 3, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $186,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS151859-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11439839 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Newborns in NICUs who are at risk for brain injury and experiencing seizures or suspected seizures.
✕Less likely to help
Newborns without risk factors or signs of brain injury are unlikely to benefit from this tool.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a reliable computer model that uses brief EEG data (up to an hour) plus video and clinical details to predict seizures in newborns within the next 10–23 hours. The goal is to provide clinicians with actionable risk predictions so they can intervene earlier in NICUs where expert EEG interpretation is limited. The work will focus on making the model interpretable and ready for real-time use alongside standard care. The team is building on a small prior study to validate the approach in a larger, diverse patient set.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the tool could help clinicians intervene sooner, potentially reducing brain injury and improving developmental outcomes for at-risk infants.
How similar studies have gone: Prior automated seizure work exists, but this project emphasizes real-time risk prediction with short EEGs and multimodal data, which is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shukla, Vivek Vishwanath — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Shukla, Vivek Vishwanath
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A study at Case Western Reserve University is exploring whether gently stimulating a natural brain pathway called the corpus callosum can help identify where seizures start and stop them from spreading in people with hard-to-control epilepsy.
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Disentangling How Inhibitory Brain Cells Shape Seizures in People
This NIH grant tests how specific brain cells that normally calm the brain influence seizures in adults, using advanced optical methods in living subjects.
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.