Improving cholesterol management for patients in the emergency department
Official title: Initiating Preventive Care for Hyperlipidemia in the Emergency Department: The EMERALD Trial
Funded at Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-11056835 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at a new way to help people with high cholesterol who come to the emergency room for chest pain, by giving them special treatment during their visit to see if it helps lower their cholesterol better than the usual care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Winston-Salem, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $155,993 |
| NIH project number | 5K23HL169929-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11056835 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients visiting the emergency department with chest pain who may have undiagnosed or unmanaged high cholesterol.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not present with chest pain or have already been diagnosed and are effectively managing their hyperlipidemia may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new approach to managing high cholesterol in patients who visit the emergency department (ED) for chest pain. It aims to implement a preventive care intervention called EMERALD, which will provide patients with effective treatments for hyperlipidemia during their ED visit. By conducting a randomized trial, the research will compare the outcomes of patients receiving this intervention against those receiving standard care, focusing on cholesterol reduction and patient adherence to treatment. The study seeks to address the gap in preventive cardiovascular care that often occurs in acute care settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better cholesterol management and reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases for patients treated in emergency departments.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promise in implementing preventive care in emergency settings, suggesting that this approach could be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Wake Forest University Health Sciences
Winston-Salem, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ashburn, Nicklaus — Wake Forest University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Ashburn, Nicklaus
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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.