Reduce bias in predicting brain recovery after cardiac arrest
Official title: Addressing an Inherent Bias in Neuroprognostication: A Collaboration Between the US and Brazil to Reduce the Impact of Self-Fulfilling Prophecy in Cardiac ARrEst (SPARE)
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-11468065 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project aims to make brain-recovery predictions more accurate for people who survive cardiac arrest by comparing outcomes between the United States and Brazil.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | January 22, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $25,758 |
| NIH project number | 3R01NS128342-03S4 |
| Project ID | NIH-11468065 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have had a cardiac arrest with suspected hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and are receiving care in an intensive care unit at a collaborating hospital would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without recent cardiac arrest, those not hospitalized, or patients with clearly irreversible brain death are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If you or a loved one survive cardiac arrest and have suspected brain injury, researchers will follow patients treated at partner hospitals in the US and Brazil to track recovery over time. Because decisions to stop life-sustaining treatment tend to happen earlier in the US than in Brazil, the team can observe longer courses of recovery in Brazil and compare real outcomes without that early bias. The study uses neurologic exams, brain imaging, blood-based biochemical markers, and electrophysiology (EEG) to find which measurements truly predict poor or good recovery. Results will be used to improve how doctors discuss prognosis and make goals-of-care decisions with families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce premature withdrawal of life support and help families and clinicians make clearer decisions about long-term recovery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has identified exams, imaging, and biomarkers linked to outcome but was limited by self-fulfilling bias from early withdrawal of life support, and using international differences to address that bias is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
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Boston Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Greer, David Matthew — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Greer, David Matthew
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Multi-center study on how ventilation during CPR relates to cardiac arrest outcomes
A large, real-world study will look at how ventilation during CPR affects survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in adults.
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Specialized post-arrest care after cardiac arrest
A large, nationwide effort tests whether transferring cardiac arrest patients to a specialized post-arrest care center improves recovery compared with usual care.
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Fairer brain recovery predictions after cardiac arrest through U.S.–Brazil collaboration
This project aims to find better ways to predict brain recovery for people who survive cardiac arrest but have possible brain injury.
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Improving predictions of brain recovery after cardiac arrest
This project compares outcomes after cardiac arrest in the U.S. and Brazil to learn which tests best predict who will regain brain function for people who survive cardiac arrest.
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Reducing biased predictions of brain recovery after cardiac arrest
This project looks at cardiac arrest survivors in the US and Brazil to find more accurate ways to predict brain recovery and avoid premature stopping of life support.
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Pediatric cooling duration to improve brain recovery after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest
This study tests the best length of cooling after cardiac arrest in children to help more kids recover with better brain function.
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.