Developing a method to preserve and improve living heart valves for children

Engineering a strategy for the preservation and rehabilitation of living allogenic heart valves

NIH-funded research Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-10998065

This study is looking at a new way to keep heart valves for kids with heart problems healthy and ready to use, so they can grow and heal on their own, which could mean fewer surgeries as they get older.

Quick facts

Grant typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionColumbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-10998065 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on creating a new way to preserve living allogenic heart valves, which are essential for pediatric patients with congenital heart defects. The goal is to enable these valves to grow and repair themselves, reducing the need for multiple surgeries as children grow. The researchers will investigate the factors that cause current heart valve replacements to fail and use this information to develop a better storage method that maintains the valves' viability and function for at least three weeks. This innovative approach aims to provide a more effective solution for heart valve replacement in young patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pediatric patients under 11 years old who require heart valve replacement due to congenital heart defects.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have congenital heart defects or are over the age of 11 may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to heart valve replacements that grow with children, significantly reducing the number of surgeries they need.

How similar studies have performed: While living allogenic valve transplantation is a relatively new approach, similar strategies in tissue preservation have shown promise, indicating potential for success in this area.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.