Using hearts from donors who have experienced circulatory death for transplantation

Transplantation of hearts from donation after circulatory death

NIH-funded research Indiana University Indianapolis · NIH-11084551

This study is looking at ways to use hearts from donors who have passed away from heart problems to help more people with severe heart failure, by improving how these hearts are kept safe during transport and using special treatments to help them recover before they are transplanted.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionIndiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Indianapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11084551 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the use of hearts from donors who have died due to circulatory failure for transplantation, aiming to increase the availability of donor hearts for patients with end-stage heart failure. The study focuses on improving the preservation of these hearts during transport and exploring the use of stem cell secretions to enhance heart recovery before transplantation. By utilizing a normothermic perfusion platform, the research seeks to mitigate damage caused during the donation process and improve outcomes for transplant recipients. Patients may benefit from advancements in heart transplantation techniques that could lead to more successful surgeries and better long-term health.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals suffering from end-stage heart failure who are awaiting heart transplantation.

Not a fit: Patients with heart conditions that are not severe enough to require transplantation or those who are not candidates for heart surgery may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the number of viable donor hearts available for transplantation, improving survival rates for patients with heart failure.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results with similar approaches, indicating potential for success in this novel application.

Where this research is happening

Indianapolis, 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.