Protecting donor hearts after circulatory death by activating the A3 adenosine receptor
The Role of Selective A3 Adenosine Receptors Activation in Myocardial Protection in donation After Circulatory Death Heart Transplantion
Testing whether turning on a specific A3 adenosine receptor can protect hearts donated after circulatory death so more and healthier hearts are available for transplant.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11362106 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We will test drugs that activate the A3 adenosine receptor to limit damage to hearts that stop beating before donation. Using laboratory and preclinical models that mimic donation after circulatory death, the team will compare in-body (in‑situ) reanimation to outside-the-body (ex‑situ) machine perfusion while giving the A3-targeted therapy. They will measure heart function, tissue injury, and markers of inflammation to see if the receptor activation preserves heart viability. Successful findings would support moving this approach toward early clinical testing for transplant recipients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People on the heart transplant waitlist who might receive a donation-after-circulatory-death (DCD) heart or who are interested in future clinical trials of heart preservation strategies.
Not a fit: Patients who are not transplant candidates or who need immediate therapy will not receive direct benefit from this preclinical research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could increase the number of usable donor hearts and reduce organ damage, improving transplant access and outcomes.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show adenosine-related pathways can protect hearts in laboratory models, but selectively activating the A3 receptor for DCD heart preservation is relatively new and not yet proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
Omaha, United States
- University of Nebraska Medical Center — Omaha, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Urban, Marian — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Urban, Marian
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.