Fair Allocation of Advanced Heart Failure Treatments
Seeking Objectivity in Allocation of Advanced Heart Failure (SOCIAL HF) Therapies Trial
This project uses a set of standardized procedures to make decisions about heart transplant and mechanical pump access fairer for people with advanced heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11181531 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient's perspective, researchers will introduce the SOCIAL HF approach into clinical teams that decide who gets heart transplants or ventricular assist devices. SOCIAL HF combines clinician training to reduce bias, objective checklists for evaluating social support and medication adherence, and meeting changes such as anonymous electronic voting and fair seating arrangements. The project will roll these changes out in real-world care settings and compare decision processes and access to advanced therapies when teams use the protocol versus usual practice. The team will also study how well these procedures are adopted and can be sustained in routine hospital workflows.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with advanced heart failure who are being evaluated for heart transplant or a ventricular assist device at participating centers are the ideal candidates for this work.
Not a fit: Patients with mild or stable heart failure who are not being considered for advanced therapies are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could make selection for transplants and mechanical heart support more transparent and reduce unfair barriers for patients from disadvantaged backgrounds.
How similar studies have performed: Standardized decision protocols have reduced disparities in other areas of medicine, but applying this structured approach specifically to transplant and mechanical support allocation is a novel effort.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Breathett, Khadijah — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Breathett, Khadijah
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.