Better ways to find heart transplant rejection in children
Predictive modeling of acute rejection in pediatric heart transplant recipients
This research aims to find less invasive and more accurate ways to detect when a child's body is rejecting a new heart.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11109734 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Currently, doctors often need to perform a heart biopsy, which is an invasive procedure, to check for rejection in children who have received a heart transplant. This can carry risks like complications from anesthesia or damage to the heart. Our goal is to develop new methods using blood tests and advanced MRI scans to spot rejection without needing a biopsy. We are looking at specific markers in the blood and detailed patterns in MRI images to see if they can reliably tell us when rejection is happening.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant for pediatric patients who have received a heart transplant and are at risk for acute rejection.
Not a fit: Patients who have not undergone a pediatric heart transplant or are not at risk for acute rejection would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to safer and more comfortable ways to monitor pediatric heart transplant patients, reducing the need for invasive biopsies.
How similar studies have performed: Some blood markers and preliminary MRI data have shown promise in detecting rejection, suggesting this approach builds on existing potential.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Soslow, Jonathan Harvey — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Soslow, Jonathan Harvey
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 below.