Proton SBRT for refractory ventricular tachycardia with real-time 3D/4D imaging
Official title: Advancing Proton Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy with Instantaneous Volumetric Imaging for Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11455881 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A patient-facing study exploring a proton-based, noninvasive radiation therapy to treat stubborn VT using advanced 3D and 4D imaging to target the heart safely.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 8, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $907,529 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL183223-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11455881 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with ventricular tachycardia who have not responded to medications and cannot undergo catheter ablation may be eligible.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with VT who respond well to standard therapies or who cannot tolerate radiation therapy may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to use proton stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), guided by instantaneous volumetric imaging, to treat ventricular tachycardia that hasn’t responded to standard treatments. By focusing the radiation precisely on the abnormal heart tissue and minimizing exposure to healthy tissue, researchers hope to reduce harmful side effects while potentially lowering VT recurrence. The study addresses motion from breathing and heartbeats by advancing imaging and targeting methods. If successful, this approach could offer a new noninvasive option for patients who cannot undergo catheter ablation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with refractory VT could have a safer, noninvasive treatment option that reduces VT episodes and long-term heart damage.
How similar studies have gone: Past SBRT studies in VT show promise; this trial seeks to improve precision and safety with proton therapy and advanced imaging.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yang, Xiaofeng — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Yang, Xiaofeng
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Map heart tissue to guide VT ablation with AI help
A patient-oriented project aims to use AI-based mapping to better identify abnormal heart tissue responsible for ventricular tachycardia and guide safer, faster ablation.
-
Venous ethanol ablation to treat ischemic VT (VE-VT)
A new treatment approach uses ethanol delivered through heart veins to help stop dangerous heart rhythms in patients with previous heart damage.
-
Novel gene therapy tools to prevent dangerous heart rhythms
A small grant supports testing gene-therapy methods to stop ventricular tachycardia after a heart attack, with the goal of helping people at risk of sudden heart rhythm problems.
-
Radiation-guided ablation for ventricular tachycardia
This project tests a noninvasive radiation approach to ablate heart tissue in people with dangerous ventricular tachycardia to reduce the need for invasive procedures.
-
Low-Field MRI–Guided Robotic Catheter System for VT Ablation
A research project is testing a new low-field MRI–guided robotic catheter to improve treatment of ventricular tachycardia for patients with abnormal heart structure.
-
Wideband 3D heart imaging to guide VT ablation
A new imaging approach uses 3D wideband heart scans to plan and guide ablation for ventricular tachycardia patients.
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.