Turbulence in artificial hearts and pumps: how flow changes blood and bleeding risk
Official title: Impact of turbulence on blood in mechanical circulatory support
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-11418992 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how turbulence in artificial heart pumps affects blood clotting and bleeding, with a focus on acquired von Willebrand syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $376,108 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL164424-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418992 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients on mechanical circulatory support, including pediatric and adult individuals, who have or are at risk for acquired von Willebrand syndrome and related blood disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a mechanical circulatory support device or without bleeding/clotting issues related to these devices may not benefit.
What this research studies
People with advanced heart or lung failure may rely on devices that pump blood. This project looks at how the flow inside these devices, especially turbulence, changes the blood’s clotting proteins and platelet function. By linking flow patterns to bleeding and clotting risks, researchers aim to identify better ways to prevent complications. The study combines engineering analyses with blood tests to explore mechanisms behind bleeding in patients on mechanical circulatory support.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to safer pump designs or anticoagulation strategies that reduce bleeding and thrombosis.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown turbulence can affect von Willebrand factor; this study extends those findings to better understand bleeding risk in devices.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kipper, Matthew — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Kipper, Matthew
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.