Maglev LVAD with a slip-resistant inlet and anti-thrombosis coating to improve blood compatibility
Official title: Maglev LVAD with expandable stented inlet and anti-thrombotic coating to improve hemocompatibility
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11529217 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new magnetic-levitation heart pump design aims to reduce bleeding and clotting in people with advanced heart failure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $638,005 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HL166724-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11529217 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with advanced heart failure who may need or already rely on LVAD therapy and could benefit from a safer, more hemocompatible device.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without LVAD indications or those unable to undergo device implantation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project develops a next-generation left ventricular assist device (LVAD) that uses magnetic levitation, a slippery hydrophilic coating, and a specially designed inlet to stay clot-free and gentle on blood. Researchers will test the device in lab experiments and then in large-animal models to prove safety and compatibility with human blood. If successful, the work could lead to fewer complications for people who rely on LVADs while awaiting transplant or as a bridge to recovery. The study combines engineering design with preclinical testing to push LVAD technology forward for patients with end-stage heart failure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience fewer bleeding and clotting complications and improved long-term outcomes with LVAD support.
How similar studies have gone: Prior LVAD innovations have reduced some complications, but significant thrombosis and bleeding remain challenges, making this approach promising but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Frazier, O. H. — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Frazier, O. H.
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.