Improving heart function after transplantation using a new technique
Official title: Protection of transplanted heart function by regulation of Na/K pump activity
Funded at Wr Biotech, LLC · NIH-10691960 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new method to help keep donor hearts healthy while they are stored, so they work better when transplanted into patients, ultimately aiming to make more hearts available for those in need of a transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Wr Biotech, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $275,739 |
| NIH project number | 1R41HL165958-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10691960 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with advanced-stage heart failure or complex congenital heart disease who may require a heart transplant.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not candidates for heart transplantation or those with conditions unrelated to heart function may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a novel technique called improved Synchronization Modulation Electric Field (i-SMEF) to protect donor hearts and enhance the function of transplanted grafts. The i-SMEF will be applied to donor hearts during cold storage, and the effectiveness will be evaluated in mice after heart transplantation. The goal is to address the challenges of ischemia reperfusion injury, which can lead to graft failure and mortality. By extending the storage time of donor hearts, this research aims to increase the availability of viable organs for transplantation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved heart transplant outcomes and longer-lasting graft function for patients.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach is innovative, similar techniques have shown promise in improving organ preservation and transplant outcomes in preliminary studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Wr Biotech, LLC
Tampa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Ruisheng — Wr Biotech, LLC
- Study coordinator: Liu, Ruisheng
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Protecting donor kidneys using electric fields
This study is testing a new method to help keep donor kidneys healthy while they are stored, using a special electric field to prevent damage, and it’s being done with adult pigs to see how well it works before using it in human transplants.
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.