Using smartphone ultrasound to improve trauma care in Cameroon
Official title: Smartphone ultrasonography to improve diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening injuries for trauma patients in Cameroon
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10912029 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to help doctors in Cameroon quickly diagnose and treat serious injuries using smartphones, so they can save more lives by training local healthcare providers to use this technology effectively.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 17, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $160,298 |
| NIH project number | 5R21TW012609-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10912029 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are trauma patients in Cameroon who require timely diagnosis and treatment for their injuries.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have access to trauma care facilities or those with non-trauma-related conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening injuries in trauma patients in Cameroon by implementing a smartphone-based ultrasonography (SBU) program. The project will train local trauma providers to use this technology, which is currently underutilized due to limited access to traditional imaging methods. By evaluating the effectiveness of this training and the feasibility of SBU in the local context, the research seeks to improve timely diagnosis and treatment of injuries, ultimately reducing preventable deaths. The study will focus on both educational outcomes for providers and the impact on patient care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce preventable deaths from trauma in Cameroon by improving access to diagnostic imaging.
How similar studies have gone: Similar approaches using mobile technology for diagnostic imaging have shown promise in other low-resource settings, suggesting potential for success in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Christie, Sabrinah Ariane — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Christie, Sabrinah Ariane
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Smartphone ultrasound to speed trauma diagnosis in Cameroon
A low-cost smartphone ultrasound program is being tested to help frontline trauma teams in Cameroon quickly find life-threatening injuries.
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Smartphone ultrasound to speed diagnosis and care for trauma patients in Cameroon
A low-cost smartphone ultrasound approach is being tested so frontline clinicians in Cameroon can quickly identify life-threatening injuries and improve trauma care.
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Smartphone ultrasound to help diagnose and treat serious injuries in Cameroon
This project trains health workers to use smartphone ultrasound so people with severe injuries in Cameroon get faster diagnosis and treatment.
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AI-powered ultrasound tool to help diagnose PCOS
A new AI-based tool uses ultrasound images to help doctors reliably identify polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in reproductive-age women.
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Deep learning to estimate kidney scarring from ultrasound
A new AI-based tool uses ultrasound images to estimate kidney scarring (interstitial fibrosis) without needing a biopsy, helping people with chronic kidney disease and their doctors track disease.
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Smartphone ultrasound to find and treat dangerous injuries in Cameroon
This project teaches Cameroonian trauma clinicians to use smartphone-connected ultrasound so they can find and treat life-threatening bleeding and other injuries faster.
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.