Improving how donated hearts are allocated to patients
Optimizing the allocation of hearts from deceased donors
This project aims to build a better way to rank people on the heart transplant waitlist so those at highest risk get transplants sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285483 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are waiting for a donor heart, this project looks at who gets priority now and where the system leaves people behind. Researchers will analyze national transplant records to find disparities by sensitization, body size, race/ethnicity, and changes in care such as increased balloon pump use. They will check whether special exception statuses match each person's actual risk of dying while waiting and whether exceptions are granted fairly. Using machine learning, they'll build a MESH score that predicts a patient's risk of waitlist death to help rank candidates more accurately.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People listed for heart transplant — including those who are highly sensitized, using mechanical support, very small or large in body size, or from racial/ethnic minority groups — are the main candidates this work focuses on.
Not a fit: People who are not on the heart transplant waiting list or who need non-cardiac care are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to fairer, safer transplant prioritization so higher-risk patients wait less and fewer people are harmed by current incentives.
How similar studies have performed: Past allocation policy changes and some predictive tools exist, but applying machine learning to create a validated MESH score for heart waitlist death is a newer and not yet widely proven approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gentry, Sommer Elizabeth — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Gentry, Sommer Elizabeth
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.