Creating a fully implantable heart pump for young children with heart failure
Official title: Development of a Fully-Implantable Ventricular Assist Device for Neonates and Children with Heart Failure - with Magnetic Levitation to Improve Hemocompatibility
Funded at Texas Heart Institute · NIH-10661591 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working on a new, smaller heart pump called NeoVAD that can be safely implanted in babies and young kids with heart failure, making it easier for them to wait for a heart transplant without the risks of larger devices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Heart Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $787,884 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL153538-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10661591 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants and young children diagnosed with heart failure, particularly those who are too small for existing VADs.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 21 years or those who do not have heart failure will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a fully implantable ventricular assist device (VAD) specifically designed for infants and young children suffering from heart failure. Current VADs are too large for children under four years old and require external components that can lead to infections and prolonged hospital stays. The new device, called NeoVAD, aims to be smaller, safer, and adjustable to accommodate a child's growth, ultimately improving their chances of survival while waiting for a heart transplant. The project involves innovative engineering and design to ensure the device is both effective and compatible with the unique needs of pediatric patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve survival rates and quality of life for infants and young children with heart failure.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been advancements in VAD technology, this specific approach for fully implantable devices in pediatric patients is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Heart Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frazier, O. H. — Texas Heart Institute
- Study coordinator: Frazier, O. H.
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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.