Randomized chatbot tool to support prenatal genetic counseling
Official title: A Randomized Trial of Chatbot for Prenatal Genetic Counseling
Funded at Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island · NIH-11402205 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mobile chatbot helps pregnant people learn about prenatal genetic testing options and questions to ask their providers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | September 18, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $710,302 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD111426-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402205 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals seeking prenatal genetic counseling who may benefit from additional linguistic or information support.
✕Less likely to help
People who already have easy access to genetic counseling or prefer in-person conversations may see minimal added benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a chatbot designed to deliver prenatal genetic counseling information to pregnant patients when in-person counseling is limited. It pairs an AI-guided chat experience with standard counseling practices to improve understanding of testing choices for aneuploidy and carrier screening. The study will compare outcomes such as knowledge, decision confidence, and satisfaction between chatbot-assisted counseling and usual care. It focuses on how patients from diverse backgrounds can access reliable information using a commonly available device.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the chatbot could make prenatal genetic counseling more accessible and easier to navigate for many pregnant people.
How similar studies have gone: Similar digital counseling tools have shown potential to improve knowledge and satisfaction in related areas, with promising but variable results.
Where this research is happening
-
Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tuuli, Methodius Gamuo — Women and Infants Hospital-Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Tuuli, Methodius Gamuo
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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.