NIH-funded research R01 grant

Protecting tissue (bioprosthetic) heart valves in people with metabolic syndrome

Official title: Mitigation Strategies for Metabolic Syndrome-induced Bioprosthetic Heart Valve Degeneration

Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11296840 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This project tries a special polymer coating to help tissue heart valves last longer in people with metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes.

More Metabolic Syndrome research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionColumbia University Health Sciences
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project startMarch 10, 2024
Project endFebruary 28, 2029
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$749,115
NIH project number5R01HL170573-03
Project IDNIH-11296840 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

People with metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes who need or already have a bioprosthetic (tissue) heart valve are the most relevant candidates for this work.

Less likely to help

People with mechanical heart valves, valve problems not related to metabolic syndrome, or who are not eligible for bioprosthetic valves are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.

What this research studies

I have a tissue (bioprosthetic) heart valve that can wear out faster if I have metabolic syndrome or diabetes. The team is testing a polymer called poly-2-methyl-2-oxazoline (POZ) applied to valve tissue to reduce protein sticking, sugar-related damage, oxidation, and calcium buildup. They will run lab tests using human serum, biochemical assays, and implants in Zucker diabetic fatty rats to see whether the coating lowers damage and calcification. If these experiments succeed, the approach could move toward use on surgical and transcatheter tissue valves for patients like me.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the coating could make tissue heart valves last longer in patients with metabolic syndrome, reducing the need for repeat valve procedures.

How similar studies have gone: Early laboratory tests and rat-model experiments from this group have shown the POZ coating reduces protein damage and calcification, but the approach has not yet been tested in human clinical trials.

Where this research is happening

  • Columbia University Health Sciences
    New York, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Ferrari, Giovanni — Columbia University Health Sciences
  • Study coordinator: Ferrari, Giovanni

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.