R01HL173866
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
Harnessing artificial intelligence and deep learning to determine a coronary artery calcium estimate in patients with no history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (HIDDEN-ASCVD) study - project summary/abstract.
Data science advances have led to the emergence of opportunistic imaging screening – applying algorithms to screen for conditions from imaging performed for other purposes.
Opportunistic screening for coronary artery calcium (CAC) is an ideal test case.
CAC is the strongest predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and knowing one has CAC can be a powerful motivator of preventive behavior.
However, <1% of potentially eligible patients receive electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated computed tomography (CT) scans to measure CAC.
CAC can be identified on non-gated chest CTs, of which 19 million are performed annually in the U.S.
We previously demonstrated that a deep learning (DL) algorithm can accurately quantify CAC on non-gated, non-contrast chest CTs, and notifying patients and providers of the presence of opportunistic CAC significantly increased statin prescription rates compared to usual care.
The HIDDEN-ASCVD study will extend validated DL-CAC methods to non-cardiac, contrast-enhanced CT scans and include a factorial randomized controlled trial (RCT) to identify the optimal opportunistic CAC notification strategies to maximize statin prescription rates and patient and provider acceptability within Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated health system providing care to >4.5 million members with broad racial and ethnic diversity.
In Aim 1, we will validate the diagnostic accuracy of the existing DL-CAC algorithm and adapt the algorithm to contrast-enhanced CT scans using self-supervised DL and paired non-gated and gated CT scans.
We will also describe the epidemiology and outcomes of opportunistic CAC in this diverse health care system.
In Aim 2, we will identify 5,760 adults with DL-CAC on chest CT, without known ASCVD, and not receiving statins and efficiently test multiple notification strategies based on the MINDSPACE behavior change principles and the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework for intervention optimization.
Through a factorial RCT design, we will determine the most effective notification strategy that maximizes statin therapy and minimizes patient-reported anxiety.
Co-design focus groups of providers and patients that received notifications will then provide input on serial adaptation of the strategy based on their experience.
The adapted optimal strategy will be tested in a single-arm validation study to determine an unbiased estimate of the net effect of the intervention on statin initiation and patient acceptability.
The RCTs will be enriched for historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups to provide generalizable knowledge.
The HIDDEN-ASCVD study will be paradigm shifting by identifying the optimal behavioral science-driven notification strategy for opportunistic CAC balancing the benefit of statin therapy with the perceived risks of health-related anxiety.
This research will motivate future studies designed to implement opportunistic CAC screening and notification on a health system-wide scale reducing the overall burden of ASCVD and mitigating documented health disparities.
Data science advances have led to the emergence of opportunistic imaging screening – applying algorithms to screen for conditions from imaging performed for other purposes.
Opportunistic screening for coronary artery calcium (CAC) is an ideal test case.
CAC is the strongest predictor of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and knowing one has CAC can be a powerful motivator of preventive behavior.
However, <1% of potentially eligible patients receive electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated computed tomography (CT) scans to measure CAC.
CAC can be identified on non-gated chest CTs, of which 19 million are performed annually in the U.S.
We previously demonstrated that a deep learning (DL) algorithm can accurately quantify CAC on non-gated, non-contrast chest CTs, and notifying patients and providers of the presence of opportunistic CAC significantly increased statin prescription rates compared to usual care.
The HIDDEN-ASCVD study will extend validated DL-CAC methods to non-cardiac, contrast-enhanced CT scans and include a factorial randomized controlled trial (RCT) to identify the optimal opportunistic CAC notification strategies to maximize statin prescription rates and patient and provider acceptability within Kaiser Permanente Northern California, an integrated health system providing care to >4.5 million members with broad racial and ethnic diversity.
In Aim 1, we will validate the diagnostic accuracy of the existing DL-CAC algorithm and adapt the algorithm to contrast-enhanced CT scans using self-supervised DL and paired non-gated and gated CT scans.
We will also describe the epidemiology and outcomes of opportunistic CAC in this diverse health care system.
In Aim 2, we will identify 5,760 adults with DL-CAC on chest CT, without known ASCVD, and not receiving statins and efficiently test multiple notification strategies based on the MINDSPACE behavior change principles and the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) framework for intervention optimization.
Through a factorial RCT design, we will determine the most effective notification strategy that maximizes statin therapy and minimizes patient-reported anxiety.
Co-design focus groups of providers and patients that received notifications will then provide input on serial adaptation of the strategy based on their experience.
The adapted optimal strategy will be tested in a single-arm validation study to determine an unbiased estimate of the net effect of the intervention on statin initiation and patient acceptability.
The RCTs will be enriched for historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups to provide generalizable knowledge.
The HIDDEN-ASCVD study will be paradigm shifting by identifying the optimal behavioral science-driven notification strategy for opportunistic CAC balancing the benefit of statin therapy with the perceived risks of health-related anxiety.
This research will motivate future studies designed to implement opportunistic CAC screening and notification on a health system-wide scale reducing the overall burden of ASCVD and mitigating documented health disparities.
Awardee
Funding Goals
TO FOSTER HEART AND VASCULAR RESEARCH IN THE BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, CLINICAL AND POPULATION SCIENCES, AND TO FOSTER TRAINING TO BUILD TALENTED YOUNG INVESTIGATORS IN THESE AREAS, FUNDED THROUGH COMPETITIVE RESEARCH TRAINING GRANTS. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, USE SMALL BUSINESS TO MEET FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PERSONS, AND INCREASE PRIVATE-SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THROUGH COOPERATIVE R&D BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, AND INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL R&D.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Oakland,
California
946122304
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Kaiser Foundation Hospitals was awarded
Optimizing AI Coronary Artery Calcium Detection in Hidden-ASCVD Study
Project Grant R01HL173866
worth $3,918,561
from National Heart Lung and Blood Institute in September 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Oakland California United States.
The grant
has a duration of 4 years and
was awarded through assistance program 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity Research Project Grant (Parent R01 Clinical Trial Required).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 11/20/25
Period of Performance
9/27/25
Start Date
8/31/29
End Date
Funding Split
$3.9M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$3.9M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
R01HL173866
SAI Number
R01HL173866-2893201014
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Nonprofit With 501(c)(3) IRS Status (Other Than An Institution Of Higher Education)
Awarding Office
75NH00 NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Funding Office
75NH00 NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Awardee UEI
P1RTMASB37B5
Awardee CAGE
0ZUC3
Performance District
CA-12
Senators
Dianne Feinstein
Alejandro Padilla
Alejandro Padilla
Modified: 11/20/25