Using a cholesterol-lowering medication to prevent heart complications after transplantation
Official title: PCSK9 Inhibition after Heart Transplantation
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10617265 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how well a new cholesterol-lowering medication called alirocumab works for heart transplant patients to help keep their hearts healthy and prevent complications, and if you join, you'll either get the medication or a placebo while we check your heart health over a year.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2019 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $388,719 |
| NIH project number | 5R33HL139929-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10617265 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have recently undergone heart transplantation and are at risk for cardiac allograft vasculopathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not had a heart transplant or those with contraindications to PCSK9 inhibitors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of a new cholesterol-lowering medication called alirocumab in patients who have undergone heart transplantation. It aims to determine the safety and effectiveness of this medication in preventing a serious condition known as cardiac allograft vasculopathy, which can lead to complications after surgery. Participants will undergo tests to measure their heart health and cholesterol levels, and they will be randomly assigned to receive either the medication or a placebo. The study will track changes in heart artery health over the course of a year.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve heart health and reduce complications for patients who have received a heart transplant.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that PCSK9 inhibitors can effectively lower cholesterol levels and reduce plaque in non-transplant patients, suggesting potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fearon, William F — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Fearon, William F
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Targeted immune treatments to protect donated hearts
This project develops ways to send immune-suppressing medicines directly to the lymph nodes and the transplanted heart to help people with heart transplants avoid rejection while reducing side effects.
-
IL-33 helps protect heart transplant patients from long-term rejection
This grant studies how a natural molecule called IL-33 may shield heart transplant patients from ongoing immune damage and chronic rejection.
-
Targeted mRNA delivery to improve heart transplants from donation after circulatory death
This grant tests a new mRNA delivery approach to help donor hearts from donors after circulatory death survive and function better after transplant.
-
Belatacept to reduce rejection and protect kidneys after a heart transplant
This trial will compare continuing tacrolimus to gradually switching to belatacept over nine months in people receiving a first-time heart transplant to lower rejection, prevent donor-specific antibodies, and protect kidney function.
-
Partial heart transplant to give growing heart valves to children
This work tries transplanting only the donor heart part that contains a valve so children can get a valve that grows with them.
-
Predicting Heart Transplant Rejection Risk Before Surgery
This research aims to find ways to predict which heart transplant patients might reject their new heart, helping doctors tailor their medication plans.
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.