One-artery versus multiple-artery bypass and thinking/memory after heart surgery
Randomized Comparison of the Clinical Outcome of Single Versus Multiple Arterial Grafts: Cognition (ROMA:Cog)
This compares whether using one artery or multiple arteries during coronary bypass surgery changes thinking and memory in adults having the operation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11419912 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're an adult scheduled for coronary artery bypass (CABG), researchers randomly assign about 2,000 people to receive either multiple arterial grafts or a single arterial graft and follow them over time. The team will use cognitive tests and imaging to see how surgery affects thinking, memory, and new tiny brain infarcts. They will pay special attention to groups like women and people with diabetes to see if effects differ. The study also looks at whether surgical techniques that limit aortic handling reduce the risk of brain emboli and later cognitive problems.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (typically 21 and older) who are scheduled for planned coronary artery bypass grafting and can complete follow-up testing are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who do not need CABG, are under 21, require emergency surgery, or cannot participate in follow-up visits or testing are unlikely to benefit from joining.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help surgeons choose a bypass technique that lowers the chance of memory loss, stroke, or other thinking problems after surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies link aortic manipulation to brain emboli and cognitive decline, but randomized comparisons of single versus multiple arterial grafts focused on cognition are limited, so this approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Columbia University Health Sciences — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Masterson Creber, Ruth Marie — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Masterson Creber, Ruth Marie
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.