Penn researchers join ARPA-H initiative to develop next-gen fetal monitoring device

Clinicians may soon have a clearer picture of how babies are tolerating labor—and why complications occur—through a new federally funded effort to develop a wearable monitoring system capable of providing real-time insights into fetal oxygen levels during childbirth.

Researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania are part of a multi-institution team awarded up to $39.3 million by the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through its Making Obstetric Care Smart (MOCS) program to develop OMEGA (Optical, Mechanical, and Electrical Global Assessment of fetal hypoxia), a wearable monitoring system designed to improve identification of fetal distress and guide clinical decision-making during labor.

“One of the biggest challenges in obstetrics is distinguishing between a fetus that is experiencing true distress and one that is responding normally to the stress of labor,” said Nadav Schwartz, MD, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine and lead investigator of this study at Penn. “Better information could help clinicians make more informed decisions, potentially improving outcomes for both mothers and babies while reducing unnecessary interventions.”

International collaboration to transform decades-old technology

Current fetal monitoring methods rely primarily on tracking fetal heart rate and uterine contractions, technology that hasn’t changed much since the 1970s. While abnormalities in heart rate can signal possible distress, they often cannot determine whether a fetus is receiving enough oxygen or identify the underlying cause of a problem. As a result, clinicians frequently must make high-stakes decisions with incomplete information.

Led by Jana Kainerstorfer, PhD at Carnegie Mellon University and supported through ARPA-H's MOCS program, the project brings together experts from nine institutions, including Penn Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Notre Dame, Washington University in St. Louis, the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Spain, and Ireland’s Tyndall National Institute.

Looking beyond fetal heart rate

OMEGA is designed to move beyond traditional monitoring by providing a broader view of maternal-fetal health. The system will combine multiple noninvasive sensors to collect information from the mother, placenta, uterus, and fetus, creating a more complete picture of oxygen delivery and how a fetus responds during labor.

“With newer technology, including AI, we hope to contribute to a solution that’s easy to use in the delivery room and will impact millions of patients around the world,” said Gabriel Arenas, MD, an assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Perelman School of Medicine and co-investigator of the study at Penn.

The project will also incorporate artificial intelligence and machine-learning tools capable of analyzing these data streams in real time. Researchers aim to develop models that can monitor when a fetus is genuinely at risk from low oxygen levels—known as fetal hypoxia—and help clinicians understand the likely cause and identify the most appropriate response.

Building smarter obstetric care

The United States continues to experience higher rates of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality than other high-income countries, despite spending more on maternity care. At the same time, cesarean deliveries account for roughly one-third of U.S. births. Clinicians and researchers have long sought more precise tools to guide labor management and avoid interventions that may not be necessary.

The OMEGA team hopes the technology will eventually provide clinicians with actionable information throughout labor, enabling earlier interventions when needed while reducing false alarms that can contribute to emergency procedures.