A new stent that reduces the need for blood-thinning medications after heart procedures.
Official title: A Novel Ticagrelor Coated Stent to Eliminate the Need for Dual Anti Platelet Therapy Post PCI
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11084389 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new type of heart stent that releases a medication to help prevent dangerous blood clots, making it safer for patients who have had heart procedures and reducing the need for long-term blood-thinning medications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | May 15, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $475,476 |
| NIH project number | 5R33HL171775-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11084389 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions who are at risk for stent thrombosis and have conditions that complicate the use of standard blood-thinning therapies.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not require stenting or those who are not undergoing PCI procedures may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a ticagrelor coated stent designed to prevent stent thrombosis, a serious complication that can occur after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). By using a stent that releases the antiplatelet medication ticagrelor directly at the site, the need for prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy is eliminated, which can significantly reduce the risk of bleeding in patients. The research includes laboratory testing and animal studies to evaluate the stent's effectiveness and safety compared to traditional stents. If successful, this approach could make PCI safer for patients with conditions that complicate standard treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer heart procedures with fewer complications for patients requiring stents.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of drug-coated stents is established, the specific approach of using a ticagrelor coated stent is novel and has not been widely tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
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University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pacella, John J — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Pacella, John J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.