SAN FRANCISCO, C.A., Aug 5, 2024 – SafeBeat announced today it has been awarded a Direct to Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant for approximately $2M from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). SafeBeat’s research team is led by Rachita Navara, MD, FACC, FHRS and Kunj Patel, MD, MSc, in collaboration with Edward Gerstenfeld, MD, MS, the Melvin Scheinman Endowed Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology at University of California, San Francisco. The study was designed to validate the SafeBeat AI-based ECG analysis software that enables clinicians to monitor patients starting and continuing medications for atrial fibrillation, all from a mobile phone.
Over 38 million people worldwide suffer from atrial fibrillation, but access to heart rhythm drugs is restricted to start these oral medications. The objective of this SBIR is to expand access to these medications, which are currently underprescribed especially in minority and rural populations. The proposed research will advance technology created by SafeBeat Rx to allow atrial fibrillation patients to start medications utilizing AI-based ECG analysis and physician monitoring.
The research reported in this press release is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health under award number R44HL167294. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The SafeBeat AI-based ECG analysis software is For Investigational Use Only. The performance characteristics of this product have not been established.
About SafeBeat:
SafeBeat is a digital health company developing an ECG analysis AI-model to enable patients with atrial fibrillation to start cardiac medications while being monitored by their clinical team, all from a phone. SafeBeat is backed by top early stage venture capital investors including YCombinator, 50 Years, Fusion Fund, and top angel investors.
About UCSF Principal Investigator:
Dr. Gerstenfeld is the Melvin Scheinman Endowed Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology at UCSF. He is the Associate Editor of the Journal of Cardiac Electrophysiology, is on the editorial board of multiple Cardiology/EP journals, has served 7 years on the ABIM CCEP board writing committee and the 2017 HRS/EHRA/ECAS/APHRS guideline committee for catheter and surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation. The UCSF Cardiac Electrophysiology and Arrhythmia Service is world renowned as the birthplace of catheter ablation and continued involvement in medical innovation and novel treatments for atrial fibrillation.