Predictive tools to improve pediatric donor heart use
Official title: Improving Pediatric Donor Heart Utilization with Predictive Analytics
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11616970 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A pediatric heart transplant grant is building data-driven tools to help doctors choose the best donor hearts for children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $273,285 |
| NIH project number | 4R33HS029548-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11616970 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with end-stage heart failure or inoperable congenital heart defects who are candidates for heart transplantation.
✕Less likely to help
Children who are not waitlisted for transplant or whose clinical situation isn’t affected by donor heart decisions.
What this research studies
This project will create machine learning models to predict how likely a child would do well after a transplant given a specific donor heart, and how long a child might wait for the next offer if that heart isn’t used. By analyzing 30,000 national pediatric heart offers from 2010–2020, clinicians could have clearer guidance at the moment a donor heart becomes available. The goal is to reduce waitlist deaths while maintaining good transplant survival. The work aims to provide practical decision support that fits into the fast-paced transplant process.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, doctors could make more informed heart offers for children, potentially saving lives while preserving transplant success.
How similar studies have gone: Previous similar predictive approaches in adults have shown promise, but pediatric-specific models are novel and addressing a critical gap.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcculloch, Michael a. — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Mcculloch, Michael a.
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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.