# NIH grant: Combined Fetal Magnetocardiography and Echocardiography Using Quantum Sensors (1R01HL180491-01A1) — retained record

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NIH grant 1R01HL180491-01A1: Combined Fetal Magnetocardiography and Echocardiography Using Quantum Sensors
Institute: {'code': 'HL', 'abbreviation': 'NHLBI', 'name': 'National Heart Lung and Blood Institute', 'admin_org_id': '12500068', 'admin_funding_url': ''}. PI: RONALD T WAKAI. Award: $661286.
Start: 2026-07-22T00:00:00.
ABSTRACT
 Assessment of fetal cardiac disease is challenging because the few available methods have significant
limitations. Current prenatal diagnostic strategies rely heavily on fetal echocardiography, which excels in
assessment of structure and function but has notable shortcomings in evaluating electrophysiological
abnormalities. Conversely, fetal magnetocardiography (fMCG) is the best method for assessment of electrical
rhythm but doesn't provide structural information. In this project we will utilize a new type of quantum sensor,
known as an optically-pumped magnetometer (OPM), to enable fMCG and fEcho to be performed
simultaneously, providing a more comprehensive evaluation of fetal cardiac disease than is currently possible.
 The overarching goal is to develop fMCG/fEcho into a multi-modal platform for diagnosis of complex
fetal cardiac disease, encompassing assessment of magnetic, mechanical, and magnetomechanical function.
The specific aims are:
 Aim 1. Develop fMCG signal processing methods to exploit the spatial-temporal information available in
fEcho data. This will be accomplished using an integrated fMCG-ultrasound probe that allows the positions and
orientations of the OPM sensors to be automatically registered with respect to ultrasound images of the fetus.
Beamforming, adaptive filtering, maximum likelihood estimation and other machine learning methods will be
applied to demonstrate improvements in fMCG signal-to-noise ratio and a reduction in signal dropout associated
with fetal movement.
 Aim 2. Develop methodology to perform signal-averaging of fEcho data using fMCG information. The
use of fMCG QRS complexes as precise time markers enables signal-averaging of fEcho data and temporal
alignment fEcho tracings recorded from different regions of the heart and surrounding vessels. This will mitigate
the effects of variability in mechanical interval measurements and allows additional clinically-relevant information
to be extracted from fMCG-fEcho data.
 Aim 3. Demonstrate the clinical utility of fMCG/fEcho through study of fetuses with LQTS and CHD.
These potentially lethal diseases generally involve both magnetic and mechanical abnormalities and exemplify
the types of complex fetal cardiac conditions that can benefit from the comprehensive evaluation enabled by
fMCG/fEcho.
```



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