AURORA (AI Ultrasound Research On Routine & Advanced cases)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating the Performance of AI‐Enabled Ultrasound Systems for Gestational Age, Fetal Weight, and Additional Maternal‐Fetal Parameters in a Cross‐Sectional Observational Study
IRAS ID
356593
Contact name
Kypros Nicolaides
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
The AURORA study is a research project exploring how well artificial intelligence (AI) can perform pregnancy ultrasound scans. It focuses on checking if AI can accurately estimate how far along a pregnancy is (gestational age), predict a baby’s weight close to birth, and detect certain pregnancy-related conditions. The study will take place at King’s College Hospital in London.
Ultrasound is an essential part of pregnancy care, but it depends heavily on the skill of the person doing the scan. In many parts of the world, skilled professionals and high-end equipment are not always available. AI-enabled handheld devices, which can be used by people with minimal training, could help make pregnancy scans more widely accessible. These devices use "blind sweeps" (moving the probe over the belly in a standard way) to collect data, which AI then analyses.
The AURORA study will involve around 6,000 pregnant women and compare results from six different AI devices against traditional ultrasound measurements taken at four stages of pregnancy (12, 20, 24–28, and 36 weeks). Some participants will also have AI scans just before planned deliveries, to compare AI’s weight estimates with actual birth weights. The study will also assess how well the AI works in more complex situations, such as twin pregnancies, low or high amniotic fluid, or babies not in the usual head-down position.
Importantly, the AI results will not be used to guide medical decisions during the study. The aim is to understand how accurate and reliable the technology is, so it can be improved and potentially used in the future to support safer pregnancies—especially in settings where standard ultrasound services are limited.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/SC/0282
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion