Tuesday, October 7, 2025 10/7/2025

Examining the feasibility of a wearable device for fetal heart rate monitoring through interdisciplinary research

Award Number: R15HD107526
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/06/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2026

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Examining the feasibility of a wearable device for fetal heart rate monitoring through interdisciplinary research - PROJECT SUMMARY The overall maternal and infant health outcomes in rural areas of the United States depict a constant and growing health need. Continued technological advances are needed to improve health care services and outcomes for the most vulnerable populations. The long-term objective of this multidisciplinary team is to transition an engineering prototype to a self-monitoring clinical prototype. The objective of this proposal is to develop the functionality of a wireless, non-invasive skin-wearable fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) monitoring device based on an accurate fECG extraction algorithm and cloud-based remote health monitoring to improve clinical care among low-risk pregnant women in a rural community that is acceptable to prenatal healthcare services consumers. To achieve the proposal objective, the study will focus on two specific aims: Aim 1 - development of a wearable fECG monitoring device prototype via human subject-based testing in a rural based healthcare setting; and Aim 2 - examining the acceptability of wireless wearable monitoring health devices among females using community-based participatory research to understand the needs, perceptions, and preferences among women who have previously been pregnant. The expected outcomes upon completion of this study are the demonstrated functionality of the wearable fECG device and multiple sources of patient-centered data to support the future use of the device. In the future, widespread use of the wearable device is likely to improve obstetrical care for pregnant women through the ability to increase maternal mobility during labor and improved birth outcomes for both women and infants. Future studies could enhance rural health care access by using the wearable device remotely. These efforts align with the fifth NICHD theme to advance safe and effective devices for pregnant women and the efforts include a multidisciplinary collaboration with researchers in fields from engineering, nursing, and public health. Additionally, the research is community-based and includes a rural underrepresented population.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2022	WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY	1845 FAIRMOUNT ST # 38	WICHITA	KS	67260	SEDGWICK	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	8/25/2025	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = -$19,218 )
2023	2022	WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY	1845 FAIRMOUNT ST	WICHITA	KS	67260	SEDGWICK	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	7/3/2023	NEW	-$19,218
														Subtotal = -$19,218

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $432,565 )
2022	2022	WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY	1845 FAIRMOUNT ST	WICHITA	KS	67260	SEDGWICK	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	8/5/2022	NEW	$432,565
														Subtotal = $432,565

Grand Total All Awards = $413,347

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Examining the feasibility of a wearable device for fetal heart rate monitoring through interdisciplinary research

Award Number: R15HD107526

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/06/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 07/31/2026

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