Using artificial intelligence to improve heart defect diagnosis in newborns in Sub-Saharan Africa
Official title: Artificial Intelligence assisted echocardiography to facilitate optimal image extraction for congenital heart defects diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa
Funded at Health Research Foundation · NIH-10932160 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on using smart technology to help doctors quickly and accurately find heart problems in newborns, especially in areas where there aren't enough specialists, so families can get the care they need without traveling far.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Health Research Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Buea, CAMEROON) |
| Project start | September 20, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $227,877 |
| NIH project number | 5U01HL172179-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10932160 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are newborns under 4 weeks old who are suspected of having congenital heart defects.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with congenital heart defects who are older than 4 weeks or those who do not have access to the participating healthcare facilities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the diagnosis of congenital heart defects (CHD) in newborns using artificial intelligence-assisted echocardiography. By optimizing image extraction techniques, the project seeks to address the challenges posed by a shortage of trained experts in Sub-Saharan Africa, where many infants suffer from undiagnosed heart conditions. The approach involves developing AI models that can assist healthcare providers in capturing and interpreting echocardiographic images more effectively, thereby facilitating timely and accurate diagnoses. This could significantly reduce the burden on families who currently face long journeys to specialized centers for diagnosis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnoses of congenital heart defects in newborns, potentially saving lives and improving health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that AI-assisted diagnostic tools can improve the accuracy and efficiency of medical imaging, suggesting a promising potential for this approach in the context of congenital heart defects.
Where this research is happening
-
Health Research Foundation
Buea, Cameroon Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Leke, Aminkeng Zawuo — Health Research Foundation
- Study coordinator: Leke, Aminkeng Zawuo
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Four-Chamber Echo Insights to Improve Cardiac Diagnosis
A new AI-based approach uses routine echocardiograms to map the heart’s four chambers and flow patterns, helping doctors diagnose acute heart conditions more accurately.
-
AI-powered automatic echocardiography reporting for better heart care
A Mayo Clinic team is developing an AI-enabled system to automatically interpret echocardiograms and generate reports for patients with heart problems.
-
AI-powered echocardiography to spot common heart defects in newborns
A new AI tool analyzes infant heart ultrasound images to help non-specialist health workers identify five common, treatable heart defects early.
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AI help for newborn heart ultrasound images in Sub‑Saharan Africa
This project uses AI to help health workers capture better heart ultrasound images so newborns in Sub‑Saharan Africa can get quicker, more accurate diagnosis of congenital heart defects.
-
AI-powered echocardiography reporting with visual-linguistic models
A Mayo Clinic physician aims to train and grow an AI-enabled system that helps automatically interpret echocardiograms and generate reports for patients with heart problems.
-
New approaches to making transesophageal echocardiography safer and easier for patients
A novel NIH-funded project aims to improve how transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is done, reducing sedation risks and expanding access for adults who need heart imaging.
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.