Improving the Maglev Heart Pump for Heart Failure
Official title: Maglev LVAD with expandable stented inlet and anti-thrombotic coating to improve hemocompatibility
Funded at Texas Heart Institute · NIH-11110455 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project develops a new type of heart pump, called a Maglev LVAD, to help people with severe heart failure live longer and healthier lives.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Texas Heart Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $683,158 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL166724-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11110455 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with end-stage heart failure who are candidates for a Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) would be the primary beneficiaries of this technology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with heart conditions that do not require an LVAD or those who are not candidates for such a device would not directly benefit from this specific innovation.
What this research studies
Heart failure affects millions, and while Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) are a good option for many, complications like bleeding and blood clots are a concern. This project is creating an improved Maglev LVAD, which is a special heart pump that uses magnetic forces to help the heart. Researchers are designing it with a new inlet and a special coating to make it more compatible with blood, aiming to significantly reduce the risk of these serious complications. The goal is to make LVADs a safer and more effective treatment for those with advanced heart failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this improved heart pump could significantly reduce life-threatening complications like bleeding and blood clots for patients with severe heart failure.
How similar studies have gone: While LVADs are already in use, this project introduces innovative design and coating technologies to specifically address existing complications, building upon prior advancements in device development.
Where this research is happening
-
Texas Heart Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frazier, O. H. — Texas Heart Institute
- Study coordinator: Frazier, O. H.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Targeting Inflammation in Hardening of the Arteries
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-
Creating a Bioengineered Heart for Transplant
This project aims to develop a lab-grown heart using human cells to help patients with severe heart failure.
-
Investigating heart failure in patients with congenital heart disease
This study is looking at Single Ventricle Disease, a serious heart condition, to find out what causes heart failure in people with this disease, and it hopes to create better treatments to help improve heart health for those affected, including patients who may share their samples or information to support the research
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Investigating how the immune system affects heart cell regeneration after injury
This study is looking at how the immune system helps heart cells heal after damage from heart disease, with the goal of finding new ways to help people recover from heart failure after a heart attack.
-
Creating a fully implantable heart pump for young children with heart failure
This study is working on a new, smaller heart pump called NeoVAD that can be safely implanted in babies and young kids with heart failure, making it easier for them to wait for a heart transplant without the risks of larger devices.
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.