NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Investigating heart recovery in patients with diabetes and heart failure

Official title: Understanding Myocardial Recovery in Diabetes and Heart Failure

Funded at VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System · NIH-11051762 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how heart function can get better in people with diabetes and heart failure who are using a special heart pump, and it aims to find out how different levels of diabetes control affect their recovery.

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Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVA Salt Lake City Healthcare System
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Salt Lake City, United States)
Project startOctober 1, 2020
Project endDecember 31, 2025
Funding year2025
NIH project number5I01CX002291-05
Project IDNIH-11051762 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research are patients with both diabetes and heart failure who are undergoing treatment with left ventricular assist devices.

Less likely to help

Patients without diabetes or heart failure, or those not receiving LVAD therapy, may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how heart function can improve in patients who have both diabetes and heart failure, particularly those receiving left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). By analyzing human cardiac tissue and serum samples before and after LVAD therapy, researchers aim to uncover the metabolic changes that occur during recovery. The study also involves using non-radioactive tracers to explore how glucose metabolism is affected in these patients. The goal is to identify factors that contribute to better heart recovery in well-controlled diabetes compared to poorly controlled diabetes.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment strategies for heart failure patients with diabetes, enhancing their recovery and overall health outcomes.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding cardiac metabolism in heart failure, but this specific approach involving LVAD and diabetes is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

  • VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System
    Salt Lake City, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Drakos, Stavros George — VA Salt Lake City Healthcare System
  • Study coordinator: Drakos, Stavros George

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Lowering heart failure risk for people with diabetes and low income

    This project brings problem-solving training, community health workers, and local support to people with diabetes, obesity, and low income who have early heart changes to help improve fitness, control risk factors, and feel better.

    NIH research Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, United States · NIH-11134439

  • Exploring how low socioeconomic status and diabetes affect heart failure risk

    This study is looking at how being low-income and having diabetes can affect your heart health, especially for people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and it will involve 350 participants trying out helpful programs to improve their health and lifestyle.

    NIH research Johns Hopkins University · Baltimore, United States · NIH-10897863

  • HEARTS hypertension and diabetes care in Guatemala

    This grant tests how well the HEARTS primary care model works in Guatemala to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for patients.

    NIH research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, United States · NIH-11645315

  • Retinal signals in early diabetes and how they affect vision

    This grant looks at how diabetes changes the signals in the retina that control vision, with a focus on inner retinal cells and how these changes may lead to vision problems.

    NIH research University of Arizona · Tucson, United States · NIH-11641965

  • Integrated Heart Health: A HEARTS-based approach to hypertension and diabetes in Guatemala

    A study tests a team-based, stepwise care model to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for people with both hypertension and diabetes in Guatemala.

    NIH research University of Michigan at Ann Arbor · Ann Arbor, United States · NIH-11637221

  • AI-supported heart failure diagnosis and management in Rwanda

    Aiming to help people with suspected heart failure in Rwanda get faster, more accurate diagnoses and better care using AI-guided ultrasound and care protocols.

    NIH research Boston Medical Center · Boston, United States · NIH-11625877

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.