Remote photo and thermal imaging to detect C-section wound infections
Official title: Image-based algorithms for remote cesarean surgical site infection diagnoses in diverse populations
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11397942 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Uses photo and thermal imaging tools to detect wound infections after C-section among women in Rwanda, Ghana, and Mexico.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $38,195 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD112403-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397942 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women who recently had a cesarean delivery and can attend follow-up in the participating sites in Rwanda, Ghana, or Mexico around postoperative day 10.
✕Less likely to help
People who did not have a C-section, live outside the study regions, or require immediate emergency care are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
You would be followed after a cesarean delivery and have wound photos and thermal images taken around postoperative day 10. Community health workers at sites in Rwanda, Ghana, and Mexico will help collect the images and clinical notes during routine follow-up. The project will test and update existing image-based algorithms that flag likely infections, paying attention to accuracy across different skin tones. The aim is to make a simple remote tool that helps spot infections earlier so women can get treatment sooner without long travel.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could help detect C-section wound infections earlier in low-resource areas, allowing faster treatment and fewer complications.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier algorithms tested in rural Rwanda showed promising accuracy (visible images ~83% sensitivity/75% specificity; thermal images ~95% sensitivity/84% specificity), but broader validation across countries and skin tones is needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hedt-Gauthier, Bethany — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Hedt-Gauthier, Bethany
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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.