Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The University of Chicago received a $686,906 Project Grant awarded on April 17, 2026, under the National Institute for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) Minority Health and Health Disparities Research program (CFDA 93.307). The grant supports the development of a Community Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) Risk Prediction framework using machine learning and artificial intelligence to address geographic and temporal variability in cardiac arrest incidence and survival outcomes across U.S. communities. The project combines advanced computational methods with qualitative research to create an OHCA risk score and virtual laboratory environment designed as decision-support tools for community-level interventions.

The research deliverables include: (1) engagement of community stakeholders—including service organizations, emergency medical service providers, hospital quality assurance officers, public health officials, and cardiac arrest survivors—through focus groups and key informant interviews to identify optimal data elements for a scalable risk score; (2) development of machine learning-based OHCA risk prediction tools and a virtual laboratory environment for clinical decision support; and (3) evaluation and validation of these tools with community representatives to ensure practical usability and build stakeholder trust. The project extends through January 31, 2031, and will be conducted at the University of Chicago in Illinois, supporting evidence-based approaches to reducing health disparities in cardiac arrest outcomes across minority and underserved populations.