Durable ambulatory heart‑and‑lung support for pulmonary hypertension
The Road to Destination Therapy: Developing a Durable Ambulatory Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Support for Pulmonary Hypertension
Building a durable, portable heart‑and‑lung support system to help people with severe pulmonary hypertension who are at risk of right‑sided heart failure.
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-11261531 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will use high‑fidelity large animal experiments to design and test a wearable mechanical cardiopulmonary pump aimed at supporting circulation and oxygenation in advanced pulmonary hypertension. They will measure how the device handles blood flow and oxygen needs at rest and during activity, and will test its durability and compatibility with body tissues over time. Because very sick PH patients are difficult to study directly, the animal model lets the team mimic end‑stage disease and refine device performance and safety. Findings are intended to inform device improvements and the safety data needed before any future human testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with advanced pulmonary hypertension who are failing medical therapy and are at high risk of right‑sided heart failure or awaiting lung transplant would be the likely candidates for future trials of this approach.
Not a fit: This is preclinical animal research, so patients cannot enroll now and those with mild or well‑controlled pulmonary hypertension are unlikely to benefit directly from this grant's work in the near term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a portable support device that stabilizes people with life‑threatening pulmonary hypertension, keeps them more mobile, and helps bridge them to transplant or longer‑term treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has sometimes rescued PH patients and served as a bridge to transplant, but durable, portable heart‑lung support for pulmonary hypertension remains largely unproven and is a novel direction.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, United States
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bacchetta, Matthew Dominic — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Bacchetta, Matthew Dominic
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.