Using predictive analytics to improve heart transplant outcomes for children
Official title: Improving Pediatric Donor Heart Utilization with Predictive Analytics
Funded at University of Virginia · NIH-11058224 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to help doctors find the best donated hearts for kids who need heart transplants by creating tools that make it easier to decide which hearts are a good match, so more children can get the help they need and have better chances of recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Virginia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlottesville, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $138,009 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HS029548-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11058224 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children with end-stage heart failure or inoperable congenital heart defects who are awaiting heart transplants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not awaiting heart transplants or those with conditions that do not require a heart transplant may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to enhance the utilization of donated hearts for pediatric patients by developing predictive models that assess the suitability of donor hearts for individual candidates. By analyzing a comprehensive dataset of pediatric heart offers, the study seeks to provide clinicians with evidence-based tools that can help them make informed decisions quickly when a donor heart becomes available. The goal is to reduce the number of suitable hearts that are rejected due to uncertainty, ultimately improving survival rates for children awaiting heart transplants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly increase the number of pediatric heart transplants performed, thereby saving lives and improving outcomes for children with severe heart conditions.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using predictive analytics in organ transplantation is gaining traction, this specific application in pediatric heart transplantation is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcculloch, Michael a. — University of Virginia
- Study coordinator: Mcculloch, Michael a.
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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.