Using radiation to treat dangerous heart rhythms
Official title: Radiation Guided Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia
Funded at University of Utah · NIH-11163555 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to treat ventricular tachycardia, a serious heart rhythm issue, by using radiation therapy instead of the usual invasive procedures, aiming to find a safer and more effective option for patients like you.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | August 10, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $763,469 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL174056-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163555 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients suffering from ventricular tachycardia who have not responded well to other treatments.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable heart rhythms or those who are not candidates for radiation therapy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new approach to treating ventricular tachycardia, a serious heart rhythm disorder, by using radiation therapy instead of traditional invasive catheter ablation. The study aims to understand how radiation affects heart tissue and the timing of its effects, which could lead to a safer and more effective treatment option. By combining advanced imaging techniques and computational modeling, the researchers hope to refine the process of identifying the best treatment sites and improve patient outcomes. This non-invasive method could significantly reduce the risks associated with current treatment options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a safer, non-invasive treatment option for patients with ventricular tachycardia.
How similar studies have gone: While radiation therapy has shown promise in treating cardiac arrhythmias in a limited number of cases, this approach is still relatively novel and requires further investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ranjan, Ravi — University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Ranjan, Ravi
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Map heart tissue to guide VT ablation with AI help
A patient-oriented project aims to use AI-based mapping to better identify abnormal heart tissue responsible for ventricular tachycardia and guide safer, faster ablation.
-
Proton SBRT for refractory ventricular tachycardia with real-time 3D/4D imaging
A patient-facing study exploring a proton-based, noninvasive radiation therapy to treat stubborn VT using advanced 3D and 4D imaging to target the heart safely.
-
Venous ethanol ablation to treat ischemic VT (VE-VT)
A new treatment approach uses ethanol delivered through heart veins to help stop dangerous heart rhythms in patients with previous heart damage.
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Novel gene therapy tools to prevent dangerous heart rhythms
A small grant supports testing gene-therapy methods to stop ventricular tachycardia after a heart attack, with the goal of helping people at risk of sudden heart rhythm problems.
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Radiation-guided ablation for ventricular tachycardia
This project tests a noninvasive radiation approach to ablate heart tissue in people with dangerous ventricular tachycardia to reduce the need for invasive procedures.
-
Low-Field MRI–Guided Robotic Catheter System for VT Ablation
A research project is testing a new low-field MRI–guided robotic catheter to improve treatment of ventricular tachycardia for patients with abnormal heart structure.
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.