Non-invasive heart MRI for transplant patients
Comprehensive Cardiac Structure-Function Analysis in Heart Transplantation
['FUNDING_R01'] · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11082986
This work uses advanced cardiac MRI scans to find early, noninvasive signs of rejection and blood-vessel disease in people who have had a heart transplant.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11082986 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would have detailed, non-invasive cardiac MRI scans that measure tissue inflammation (T2), scarring (extracellular volume fraction), and how your heart pumps. The team tracks these MRI markers over time and links them to clinical events, donor-recipient differences, and other test results. Their database already includes over 450 comprehensive cardiac MRI exams from transplant recipients. The goal is to use imaging to spot acute rejection and allograft vasculopathy earlier and reduce the need for biopsies and catheter angiography.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who have received a heart transplant, including children and adults, especially those undergoing routine surveillance or with symptoms suggesting rejection or allograft vasculopathy.
Not a fit: People who cannot undergo MRI (for example, due to incompatible implanted devices or severe claustrophobia) or those without a heart transplant would not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce invasive biopsies and catheter angiograms and help catch rejection or vessel disease earlier.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work from this team and others has shown that MRI markers like T2 and ECV relate to rejection and later events, but larger and longer-term validation is ongoing.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MARKL, MICHAEL — NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: MARKL, MICHAEL
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.