Developing a new type of vascular graft to improve heart surgery outcomes

Preclinical Assessment of a Compliance Matched Biopolymer Vascular Graft

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · NIH-10996136

This study is testing a new type of heart bypass graft that is designed to work better with your blood vessels and last longer after surgery, making it a great option for people needing coronary artery bypass surgery.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH (nih funded)
Locations1 site (PITTSBURGH, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10996136 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research focuses on creating a new type of vascular graft designed to improve the success rates of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries. It aims to address the issue of graft failure, which can occur due to mismatched compliance between the graft and the patient's blood vessels. By engineering a biodegradable graft that maintains its compliance during the healing process, the researchers hope to enhance the graft's performance and longevity. The approach involves using advanced tissue engineering techniques and computational simulations to optimize the graft's properties before implantation.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery, particularly those at risk of graft failure.

Not a fit: Patients who are not candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery or those with non-coronary heart diseases may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved outcomes for patients undergoing heart bypass surgeries, reducing the risk of graft failure.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research in tissue engineering has shown promise in developing vascular grafts, but this specific approach to compliance matching is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

PITTSBURGH, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.