Treating long-standing leg clots with ultrasound-powered therapy and clot-busting drugs
Official title: Treatment of chronic venous thrombosis with histotripsy and thrombolytics
Funded at University of Chicago · NIH-11378531 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist team is testing a combo of ultrasound-based tissue disruption and clot-busting medicine to improve treatment for people with chronic DVT.
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 | December 15, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $672,936 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL133334-08 |
| Project ID | NIH-11378531 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients with chronic DVT who have not responded well to standard thrombolytic therapy and are candidates for interventional treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with acute DVT or those not eligible for interventional therapy may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Chronic deep vein thrombosis is hard to treat with standard drugs alone, and many patients don’t regain full blood flow. This project combines histotripsy, a focused ultrasound technique that mechanically disrupts clots, with thrombolytics to target all parts of the clot. The team has shown in the lab and in animal models that this combination can outperform either method alone. In the renewal phase, they plan to upgrade their equipment to create consistent bubble activity along the clot and test the approach more rigorously. If successful, this could lead to safer, more effective treatments for people with chronic DVT.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with chronic DVT could have better clot removal and lower risk of vein re-occlusion, improving blood flow and quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work showed the combination improved clot disruption more than either method alone in lab and animal studies, supporting further development.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bader, Kenneth B. — University of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Bader, Kenneth B.
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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.