The American Heart Association has awarded a research grant to a team at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center to develop an early warning system for sudden cardiac arrest, a condition that claims more than 600,000 lives in the U.S. annually and has persistently low survival rates. The project, titled "A Personalized and Scalable Early Warning System for Prediction of Imminent Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest," will leverage artificial intelligence to analyze multiple streams of health data—including symptoms like chest pain, Fitbit activity tracker data, medical history, blood tests, and electrocardiogram readings—to detect rising risk in the hours or days before an arrest occurs.
This initiative is the newest grant awarded through the Cardiac Arrest Research Team (CART) Network, a collaboration between the American Heart Association and Heart & Stroke™ of Canada. Originally launched in June 2026, the CART Network unites researchers from both countries to accelerate discoveries in prediction, detection, treatment, and recovery from cardiac arrest. The Cedars-Sinai team, led by principal investigator Sumeet Chugh, M.D., and co-principal investigator Kyndaron Reinier, M.P.H., Ph.D., will focus on creating a system that updates a person's risk level in real time using AI to integrate these diverse data points.
The implications of this research are significant. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest often occurs without warning, and survival hinges on immediate intervention. By identifying subtle signs that precede an arrest, the early warning system could empower individuals and healthcare providers to act sooner, potentially leading to faster response times and improved outcomes. The project's personalized and scalable approach means it could be adapted for widespread use, reaching diverse populations and settings. "This new project is intended to support a more personalized and scalable approach to identifying people whose risk of cardiac arrest may be increasing," said Manesh R. Patel, M.D., FAHA, the American Heart Association's 2026-2027 volunteer president. He emphasized that "seconds matter in making sure people get the right lifesaving treatment at the right time," underscoring the critical nature of early detection.
Funding for this research is part of the American Heart Association's broader commitment to scientific discovery. The organization has now funded more than $6.3 billion in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health research since 1949, making it the largest non-profit, non-government supporter of heart and brain health research in the U.S. This project, conducted by The K. Scott Gordon Memorial Research Team for Cardiac Arrest Prediction and Prevention, reflects the Association's relentless pursuit of innovative solutions to improve survival and outcomes for cardiac arrest patients. As the collaboration with Heart & Stroke™ demonstrates, international partnerships are vital to addressing global health challenges and advancing the mission of longer, healthier lives. For more information about cardiac arrest, visit heart.org.
