# Measurement of ab-initio physiomarker using wearable sensors to predict aneurysm growth and formation

> **NIH NIH F32** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $66,790

## Abstract

Project Summary
Aneurysms are permanent, local dilations of the blood vessel. The growth, rupture and
dissection of aortic aneurysms induce a significant rate of patient mortality. The current
standard of care relies on a reactive strategy of surveillance over a period of 1 to 5 years to
monitor the growth rate of an aneurysm. This project seeks to validate the predictive accuracy of
an ab-initio physiomarker in diagnosing both the growth and dissection of an aneurysm during
an initial evaluation. By capturing the underlying physical mechanism driving aneurysm
development, the physiomarker can be used to determine whether a cross section of the blood
vessel will dilate permanently—whether an aneurysm will grow or remain stagnant over time.
This predictive strategy can inform immediate treatment or surgical intervention at the initial
evaluation of the patient instead of waiting until follow-up to monitor for growth. The specific
aims of the project are threefold. The first is to verify the biomechanical accuracy of the
physiomarker, determine its relationship with tissue remodeling modalities, and quantify
nonlinear effects using an established in vitro experiment. The hemodynamic and vessel wall
properties will be controlled to examine the growth and stagnation regimes. The second is to
validate the accuracy of the physiomarker in patients with associated aortopathies like Marfan
syndrome or biscuspid aortic valves, which may typically act as confounding factors for
regression-based methods but are not expected to affect this ab-initio framework. Retrospective
observational studies will be performed to examine the accuracy of the physiomarker in the
presence of these factors. Lastly, the physiomarker will be measured using flexible, wearable
sensors, either in conjunction with echocardiography or as a standalone platform. This will be
carried out via carefully controlled, prospective observational studies over 1 to 2 years. Both
modalities will offer a safer, cheaper and more accurate way to predict aneurysm growth and
dissection. If the standalone sensor platform exhibits sufficient accuracy in measuring the
physiomarker, it will enable more frequent, at home monitoring of aneurysms, akin to how
blood pressure monitors can be used to track the development of hypertension. Additionally, it
will enable much broader screening for aneurysms in the general population as part of routine
health checkups.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10390070
- **Project number:** 1F32HL162417-01
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Tom Yu Zhao
- **Activity code:** F32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $66,790
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10390070

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10390070, Measurement of ab-initio physiomarker using wearable sensors to predict aneurysm growth and formation (1F32HL162417-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10390070. Licensed CC0.

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