Understanding Tricuspid Valve Changes in Heart Disease

Tricuspid Valve Maladaptation: Its Stimuli, its Effect on Valve Function, and its Response to Therapy

NIH-funded research University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11121797

This project aims to understand why the tricuspid heart valve changes in patients with a leaky valve, hoping to find better ways to treat this condition.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Texas at Austin NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Austin, United States)
Project IDNIH-11121797 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

Many Americans experience a leaky tricuspid heart valve, often due to other heart problems like high blood pressure in the lungs. Current treatments are often risky and don't always work well, leading to many patients not receiving the care they need. Our team has found that the tricuspid valve itself can grow and scar in response to this condition. We want to learn more about these valve changes to develop new treatments that either encourage the valve's natural ability to heal or target the scarring.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This foundational research is for patients with functional tricuspid valve regurgitation, especially those whose condition is linked to pulmonary hypertension-induced right ventricular remodeling.

Not a fit: Patients without functional tricuspid valve regurgitation or other heart valve conditions are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new and more effective treatments for functional tricuspid valve regurgitation, potentially reducing the need for high-risk surgeries and improving patient outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: While the discovery of tricuspid valve maladaptation is recent, this approach builds on existing knowledge of valve biology and the need for improved FTR therapies.

Where this research is happening

Austin, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.