California researchers awarded grant to develop sudden cardiac arrest early warning system

DALLAS, Oct. 29, 2026 - More than 600,000 cardiac arrests occur in the U.S. each year, and survival rates remain low both in and out of the hospital, according to the American Heart Association. A new research project funded by the Association will investigate whether artificial intelligence and multiple types of health data can help identify people whose risk of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest may be rising in the hours or days before it occurs.

The project, A Personalized and Scalable Early Warning System for Prediction of Imminent Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest, is the newest scientific research grant awarded through the Cardiac Arrest Research Team (CART) Network, a collaboration between the American Heart Association and Heart & Stroke™, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. This new research will be conducted by a team from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, led by principal investigator Sumeet Chugh, M.D., vice-dean and chief AI health research officer, and co-principal investigator Kyndaron Reinier, M.P.H., Ph.D., a research associate professor.

Originally launched in June 2026, the CART Network was established to advance the prediction, detection, treatment of and recovery from cardiac arrest. The network brings together teams from both countries to share their expertise, resources and approaches to coordinate the acceleration of scientific discoveries and translate those findings into practice to improve survival and outcomes.

For this new research project, the California team will develop an early warning system designed to identify signs that may emerge in the hours or days before cardiac arrest. The system will combine multiple types of health information, including symptoms such as chest pain or trouble breathing, Fitbit activity tracker data, medical history, blood tests and electrocardiogram data. Artificial intelligence will be used to bring those clues together and update a person's risk level in real time. This research team will be known as The K. Scott Gordon Memorial Research Team for Cardiac Arrest Prediction and Prevention, made possible through a generous gift from a donor to the Association.

"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, the Richard S. Stack, M.D. Distinguished Professor of Medicine, chief of the division of cardiology and vice president of heart and vascular services at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. "Cardiac arrest is a profound and tragic occurrence, and we know seconds matter in making sure people get the right lifesaving treatment at the right time. Our collaboration with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is an important step in our global work for a world of longer, healthier lives."

Funding scientific research and discovery through initiatives like this is a cornerstone of the lifesaving mission of the American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere. The Association has now funded more than $6.3 billion in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and brain health research since 1949, making it the single largest non-profit, non-government supporter of heart and brain health research in the U.S. New knowledge resulting from this American Heart Association funding continues to save lives and directly impact millions of people in every corner of the U.S. and around the world.

For more information about cardiac arrest, visit heart.org.

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. Dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities, the organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years. Supported by more than 35 million volunteers globally, we fund groundbreaking research, advocate for the public's health, and provide critical resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. By driving breakthroughs and implementing proven solutions in science, policy, and care, we work tirelessly to advance health and transform lives every day. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, X or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

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heart.org and stroke.org