Understanding how immune cells respond to infections in patients with heart assist devices
Official title: Deciphering links between Leukocyte Activation and Infections in VAD patients
Funded at University of Texas Dallas · NIH-11049774 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into why people with heart failure who have received a ventricular assist device (VAD) often get infections, and it aims to find ways to predict these infections and improve the immune system's response to help keep patients healthier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Dallas NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richardson, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2025 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $608,874 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL173332-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11049774 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients who have received or are scheduled to receive a ventricular assist device due to end-stage heart failure.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have heart failure or those who have not received a ventricular assist device may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the reasons behind the high infection rates in patients who have received ventricular assist devices (VADs) for heart failure. It aims to identify specific biomarkers that can predict infections after the device is implanted and to explore how changes in immune cell function may contribute to these infections. The study will also develop new laboratory tools to assess immune cell activity in a clinical setting and test whether certain treatments can improve the immune response in these patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for infections in VAD patients, ultimately improving their health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding immune responses can lead to improved management of infections in similar patient populations, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Dallas
Richardson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schmidtke, David W — University of Texas Dallas
- Study coordinator: Schmidtke, David W
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.