A tool to measure heart function in babies with single ventricle defects
Official title: An Integrated and Automated Tool for Quantification of Biomechanics in Fetal and Neonatal Echocardiography
Funded at Purdue University · NIH-10704636 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a new tool to help doctors better understand how the hearts of babies with single ventricle defects work, so they can plan surgeries more effectively and improve care for these little ones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Purdue University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Lafayette, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $189,743 |
| NIH project number | 5R21HD109490-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10704636 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include fetuses and newborns diagnosed with single ventricle heart defects.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of congenital heart defects that do not involve single ventricle conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an automated tool to analyze the biomechanics of the heart in fetuses and newborns with single ventricle defects, a serious congenital condition. The tool aims to provide more accurate measurements than current methods, which are primarily designed for adult hearts. By using advanced echocardiography techniques, the research seeks to improve understanding of how these hearts function and change over time, which could lead to better surgical planning and patient outcomes. The study will involve analyzing heart function metrics that have not been previously measurable with existing tools.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved survival rates and quality of life for patients with single ventricle heart defects.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been some success in developing tools for adult heart analysis, this specific approach for single ventricle defects is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Purdue University
West Lafayette, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vlachos, Pavlos P — Purdue University
- Study coordinator: Vlachos, Pavlos P
Related research
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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.