Improving heart evaluations in children with cardiomyopathy using advanced MRI techniques
Cardiac MRI increases accuracy and decreases risk of evaluation of children with cardiomyopathy and cardiac transplantation
This study is looking for a safer way to check how well children's hearts are doing when they have cardiomyopathy, by using special imaging techniques instead of more invasive tests, so that kids can be monitored better before and after heart transplants.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10671788 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the evaluation process for children with cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition. It aims to replace invasive procedures like biopsies and catheterizations with advanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) techniques that can safely assess heart health without radiation exposure. By using new imaging methods to detect heart muscle issues such as fibrosis and edema, the study seeks to provide a safer and more accurate way to monitor children before and after heart transplants. The goal is to correlate these non-invasive imaging results with traditional invasive tests to improve patient outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with cardiomyopathy who may require heart transplantation or ongoing cardiac evaluation.
Not a fit: Patients with heart conditions that do not involve cardiomyopathy or those who are not candidates for transplantation may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risks associated with invasive heart evaluations in children, leading to safer monitoring and treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data from similar studies in adults has shown promise in using CMR for non-invasive heart assessments, indicating potential for success in pediatric applications.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Olivieri, Laura J — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Olivieri, Laura J
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.