Heart valve made from lung lining tissue (pulmonary visceral pleura)
The pulmonary visceral pleura (PVP) aortic valve
Researchers are making replacement aortic valves from lung lining tissue (PVP) to try to create thinner, more elastic valves that last longer for people with aortic valve narrowing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11248326 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project develops a replacement aortic valve built from the pulmonary visceral pleura (the thin lining of the lung) instead of the usual cow or pig pericardium. Laboratory tests will measure how flexible, strong, and resistant to hardening (calcification) the PVP tissue is, and the team will use animal models to see how PVP valves work over time. The new valves are thinner and contain more elastin, which may reduce mechanical stress on the leaflets and improve blood flow after transcatheter implantation. If results are good, the work would move toward the steps needed for human testing and possible use in people who need transcatheter or surgical valve replacement.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with severe aortic stenosis who are candidates for transcatheter or surgical valve replacement would be the likely eventual candidates for this type of valve.
Not a fit: Patients with valve problems unrelated to aortic stenosis, those who require mechanical valves, or children who need growing-size solutions may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to thinner, more durable bioprosthetic valves that reduce the need for repeat valve procedures.
How similar studies have performed: Standard TAVR valves use bovine or porcine pericardium and work well short-term, while using PVP is a novel approach with encouraging lab and animal findings but no human trial evidence yet.
Where this research is happening
Nashville, UNITED STATES
- Vanderbilt University — Nashville, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luo, Haoxiang — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Luo, Haoxiang
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.