Venous ethanol ablation to treat ischemic VT (VE-VT)
Official title: VENOUS ETHANOL ABLATION IN ISCHEMIC VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA- VELVET TRIAL
Funded at Methodist Hospital Research Institute · NIH-11413384 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new treatment approach uses ethanol delivered through heart veins to help stop dangerous heart rhythms in patients with previous heart damage.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Methodist Hospital Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $691,087 |
| NIH project number | 5R33HL164873-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413384 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with ischemic VT who have failed or are candidates for catheter ablation and have coronary vein access.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ischemic VT or without suitable venous anatomy may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on prior case reports and a multinational registry showing that delivering small amounts of alcohol into the coronary veins can help ablate (destroy) the problematic heart tissue that causes ventricular tachycardia in ischemic cardiomyopathy. By targeting veins that drain the scarred area, the approach aims to reduce arrhythmia burden while potentially lowering the need for repetitive procedures. Participants would be followed to assess safety and how well this method works when added to standard catheter ablation. The plan capitalizes on the anatomy of arteries, veins, and nerves around the scar to reach the culprits driving the rhythm problem.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, VE could improve arrhythmia control and reduce repeat procedures for patients with ischemic VT.
How similar studies have gone: Previous case reports and a large registry suggest safety and potential efficacy, supporting further study.
Where this research is happening
-
Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Valderrabano, Miguel — Methodist Hospital Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Valderrabano, Miguel
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Wideband 3D heart imaging to guide VT ablation
A new imaging approach uses 3D wideband heart scans to plan and guide ablation for ventricular tachycardia patients.
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.