Real-time multi-lead ECG from wearables to help detect heart attacks early
Official title: SCH: Real-Time Evaluation of Acute Myocardial Infarction with Multi-Lead ECG Monitoring from Wearable PPG Measurements
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11417336 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new AI-based approach uses everyday wearable sensors to turn simple PPG signals into multi-lead ECG data to monitor for heart attacks in real time, even outside the clinic.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $293,985 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL184168-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417336 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults at risk for acute myocardial infarction who use wearable devices compatible with PPG sensing.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to compatible wearables or with contraindications to continuous wear can expect limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to bring real-time heart monitoring outside the hospital by converting everyday wearable measurements into richer ECG signals with AI. Researchers will develop diffusion-based AI methods that use PPG data from wearables to generate multi-lead ECG signals, enabling earlier recognition of acute myocardial infarction risk. The work focuses on accuracy, generalizability across people, and timely detection so clinicians and patients can respond quickly. Results could lead to better at-home monitoring for those at high risk of heart attack.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could receive earlier warning signs of a heart attack through a wearable, potentially reducing mortality.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work shows promise for AI-driven signal generation from PPG, but real-time multi-lead ECG generation in daily life remains an area of active research.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gao, Wei — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Gao, Wei
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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.