Impact of LVAD on Brain Blood Flow and Thinking
Official title: The impact of Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation on Cerebral Hemodynamics and Cognition
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11406240 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant tests how left ventricular assist devices affect brain blood flow and thinking abilities in adults with advanced heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $778,076 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL174975-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11406240 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with LVAD support or undergoing LVAD implantation
✕Less likely to help
Patients without an LVAD or those unwilling to participate in brain imaging or cognitive testing may not benefit.
What this research studies
For people living with advanced heart failure who have an LVAD, researchers will look at how the device changes brain blood flow and cognitive function over time. They will use noninvasive bedside methods to monitor cerebral blood flow continuously and correlate it with brain health and cognition. The goal is to identify measurable brain-related targets that could guide personalized treatment and improve long-term brain outcomes. This work could help clinicians better predict who is at risk for cognitive problems after LVAD implantation and how to prevent them.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized strategies to protect brain health and cognition in LVAD patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown links between brain blood flow and cognitive outcomes in other cardiac patients, but this project aims to clarify the relationship specifically in LVAD recipients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Favilla, Christopher G. — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Favilla, Christopher G.
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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.