Sildenafil to protect blood vessels during LVAD support
Sildenafil to Reduce Vascular Remodeling during Left Ventricular Assist Device Support
This project looks at whether sildenafil (Viagra) can protect blood vessels and reduce stroke and bleeding risk in people with advanced heart failure who are supported by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD).
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11242015 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you may be asked to take sildenafil while you are supported by an LVAD. The team will collect blood samples and use imaging and clinical monitoring to look for vessel stiffening, angiodysplasia, endothelial changes, and other signs of vascular remodeling that can lead to stroke and bleeding. They will also track clinical outcomes such as bleeding and stroke events and measure biomarkers (for example, angiopoietin levels) to see whether blood-vessel health improves. Study visits and safety checks will be done at the study center.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with advanced heart failure who have a durable LVAD (or are scheduled to receive one) and who can safely take sildenafil would be the main candidates.
Not a fit: People without an LVAD or those who cannot take PDE5 inhibitors (for example, patients on nitrates) are unlikely to benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower the rates of stroke and bleeding and make long-term LVAD support safer for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Sildenafil is already used for pulmonary hypertension and has shown vascular and antiplatelet effects in other settings, but applying it specifically to prevent LVAD-related vascular remodeling is a new approach.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saeed, Omar — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Saeed, Omar
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.