Inhaling argon gas during CPR to protect organs and improve survival after cardiac arrest
Official title: Inhaled Argon during Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation -A Novel Therapy to Improve Vital Organ Function and Survival after Cardiac Arrest
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11213925 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work gives argon gas during CPR to people who have a cardiac arrest to help protect their brain and heart and improve chances of survival.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2023 |
| Project end | September 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01BX005993-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11213925 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be adults who suffer a cardiac arrest and require CPR and ventilatory support, especially Veterans treated at participating hospitals.
✕Less likely to help
People who do not receive CPR, children, or those with medical conditions that prevent inhaling supplemental gases would not be candidates and likely would not benefit.
What this research studies
You would breathe a controlled mix containing the noble gas argon through breathing support right when CPR begins after a cardiac arrest to try to reduce damage from the lack of blood flow. The team will compare return of spontaneous circulation, organ function, and survival with and without argon and will study biological signals to understand how argon might protect tissues. The project is led by VA clinicians aiming to help Veterans who are at high risk for heart attacks and cardiac arrest. Findings could inform new treatments used during emergency resuscitation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could raise the odds of surviving cardiac arrest with less lasting brain and heart injury.
How similar studies have gone: A few small clinical and laboratory studies suggest noble gases like argon can protect organs, but giving argon immediately during CPR is largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Riess, Matthias L. — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Riess, Matthias L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Multi-center study on how ventilation during CPR relates to cardiac arrest outcomes
A large, real-world study will look at how ventilation during CPR affects survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in adults.
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Specialized post-arrest care after cardiac arrest
A large, nationwide effort tests whether transferring cardiac arrest patients to a specialized post-arrest care center improves recovery compared with usual care.
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Reduce bias in predicting brain recovery after cardiac arrest
This project aims to make brain-recovery predictions more accurate for people who survive cardiac arrest by comparing outcomes between the United States and Brazil.
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Fairer brain recovery predictions after cardiac arrest through U.S.–Brazil collaboration
This project aims to find better ways to predict brain recovery for people who survive cardiac arrest but have possible brain injury.
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Improving predictions of brain recovery after cardiac arrest
This project compares outcomes after cardiac arrest in the U.S. and Brazil to learn which tests best predict who will regain brain function for people who survive cardiac arrest.
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Reducing biased predictions of brain recovery after cardiac arrest
This project looks at cardiac arrest survivors in the US and Brazil to find more accurate ways to predict brain recovery and avoid premature stopping of life support.
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.