NIH-funded research R01 grant

Better defining non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with functional mitral regurgitation to predict treatment outcomes

Official title: Improving Phenotypic Classification and Prediction of Treatment Outcomes in Patients with Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy and Functional Mitral Regurgitation

Funded at Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · NIH-11319841 · Data updated 2026-11-12

The team will use advanced heart MRI to better classify people with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and functional mitral regurgitation so doctors can predict which treatments may work best.

More Cardiomyopathy research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionCleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Cleveland, United States)
Project startJuly 10, 2023
Project endApril 30, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$777,580
NIH project number5R01HL170090-04
Project IDNIH-11319841 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy who have at least moderate functional mitral regurgitation and who can undergo cardiac MRI and clinical follow-up would be ideal candidates.

Less likely to help

Patients whose mitral regurgitation is primarily degenerative (primary valve disease), those with ischemic-only cardiomyopathy without a non-ischemic component, or people unable to have MRI may not benefit directly from this work.

What this research studies

You would get a detailed cardiac MRI to measure heart chamber size, pumping function, and tissue scarring more precisely than standard ultrasound. Researchers will combine those MRI results with clinical and outcome data to identify subtypes of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and build models that predict how patients do after medical therapy or mitral valve procedures. The project focuses on linking imaging patterns to real outcomes like survival and symptom improvement to help guide treatment choices. The goal is clearer selection criteria for interventions such as percutaneous mitral repair (MitraClip) versus medical management.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could help doctors choose the right timing and type of mitral valve treatment and improve survival and symptoms for patients with heart failure and functional mitral regurgitation.

How similar studies have gone: Prior trials like MITRA-FR and COAPT produced mixed results for percutaneous mitral repair, and using cardiac MRI to refine patient selection is promising but not yet proven.

Where this research is happening

  • Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
    Cleveland, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Kwon, Deborah — Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru
  • Study coordinator: Kwon, Deborah

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Improving treatment predictions for heart patients with mitral valve issues

    This study is looking at how to better understand and treat heart problems in people with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and leaky heart valves, using advanced imaging techniques to help doctors choose the best treatments for each patient.

    NIH research Cleveland Clinic Lerner Com-Cwru · Cleveland, United States · NIH-11073111

  • Correcting cardiac microdomains to reverse non-ischemic heart failure

    A gene therapy approach targeting calcium-handling microdomains in the heart is being tested to restore heart function in a large animal model of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy.

    NIH research Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · Salt Lake City, United States · NIH-11330515

  • Improving heart function by correcting calcium handling in heart cells

    This study is testing a new gene therapy that aims to fix how heart cells manage calcium in people with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, using minipigs to see if improving a specific protein can help the heart work better and stay healthier.

    NIH research University of Utah · Salt Lake City, United States · NIH-11077253

  • Biological treatment to reduce ventricular arrhythmias in a pig model of heart disease

    Aims to test if delivering heart-cell–derived exosomes into damaged heart tissue can reduce scar and prevent dangerous ventricular rhythms in a porcine model of chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy.

    NIH research Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11402761

  • Repairing damaged heart tissue to stop dangerous ventricular rhythms after ischemic heart damage

    The team is testing whether tiny particles from heart-derived cells can repair scarred heart tissue and stop life-threatening ventricular rhythms in people with ischemic cardiomyopathy.

    NIH research Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-11168680

  • Improving heart tissue to prevent dangerous heart rhythms

    This study is looking at a new way to help people with chronic heart issues by using tiny particles from heart cells to improve the heart's electrical signals and reduce scar tissue, making it safer and more effective for patients with dangerous heart rhythms.

    NIH research Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-10906259

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.