A wearable monitor to detect worsening heart failure
Official title: Development of wearable monitor to detect decompensation in cardiac failure patients
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11125919 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is creating a new wearable device to help heart failure patients and their doctors spot early signs of worsening heart failure from home.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $225,450 |
| NIH project number | 5R21EB036367-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11125919 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future studies would be individuals living with chronic heart failure who are at risk for fluid retention and worsening symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without heart failure or those not at risk for fluid retention related to their condition would not directly benefit from this specific device.
What this research studies
Heart failure is a chronic condition where the heart struggles to pump enough blood, and worsening symptoms often lead to hospital visits. Currently, patients are asked to watch for signs like swelling themselves, which can be missed until the condition is severe. This project aims to develop a special wearable monitor that can detect early changes, such as fluid buildup and microcirculation issues, much sooner than current methods. The device will be tested in a small group of patients who are already in the hospital for worsening heart failure to see if it can accurately track their recovery. The ultimate goal is to help patients avoid hospital stays by allowing doctors to intervene earlier through telehealth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this monitor could help heart failure patients receive earlier treatment for worsening symptoms, potentially reducing hospital readmissions and improving their quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: This project builds on an existing technology platform, but its specific application for early heart failure detection is being newly validated through a pilot clinical trial.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carp, Stefan Alexandru — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Carp, Stefan Alexandru
Related research
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This study is looking at a special heart support device called the Cardiohelp system to see how well it works and keeps kids safe when they have serious heart problems and other treatments haven't worked, and it's for children aged 0 to 16 who need extra help for their hearts.
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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.