Clinical Trials

Multi-center trial to assess the feasibility and safety of the EchoMark LP and the EchoMark diagnostic ultrasound system for assessing AV fistula blood flow, diameter, and depth.

This is a prospective, multi-center, randomized effectiveness trial of the CardioGard Embolic Protection Cannula in high-risk valve surgery patients.

Do you have coronary heart disease or are you healthy and would like to participate in research? This study is comparing how well two types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners can detect different types of heart diseases, such as coronary heart disease, heart failure, congenital heart disease, and heart valve disease. The new type of MRI scanner in this study uses less energy than a traditional scanner and may be suitable for people who have metal devices in their bodies. This study is located in Bethesda, Maryland.

Are you scheduled for open-heart surgery for your aortic valve? This study aims to look at changes in inflammation and gene activity while surgery patients are on a heart-lung bypass machine. To participate in this study, you must be at least 20 years old and be scheduled for aortic valve surgery, either with or without coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This study is located in Boston, Massachusetts.

Do you or your child have a heart defect that requires a procedure called extracardiac conduit–total cavopulmonary connection (EC-TCPC)? This study is evaluating the effectiveness of a new type of graft called a tissue-engineered vascular graft for EC-TPC. Participants of this study will have this procedure and several follow-up assessments with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to test the performance of the graft. This study takes place in Columbus, Ohio.

Are you 65 years old or older, and do you have severe primary mitral regurgitation? This condition — also called degenerative mitral regurgitation — happens when there is a problem with the mitral valve itself or its supporting tissue, leading to a leaky valve. This study is comparing the safety and effectiveness of two different ways of repairing the mitral valve: transcatheter edge-to-edge repair and surgical repair. To participate in this study, your healthcare provider must determine that you are a candidate for both mitral valve transcatheter edge-to-edge repair and surgical repair. This study takes place in multiple locations across the United States and Canada.

Do you have cardiomyopathy that has led to moderate or severe mitral regurgitation? This study is exploring the best surgical technique to repair mitral regurgitation by comparing two procedures called undersizing mitral annuloplasty (UMA) and papillary muscle approximation (PMA). A UMA is a common procedure that involves implanting a prosthetic ring onto the mitral valve to stop the valve from leaking. A PMA is a newer technique in which a suture draws together the two muscles that connect the mitral valve to the heart muscle prior to performing UMA. To participate in this study, you must be 18 years old or older and have never had a mitral valve repair procedure. This study takes place in Atlanta, Georgia.

Do you or your child have dyslipidemia? This study is exploring how different diagnostic tests can help us understand how lipid disorders, including high blood cholesterol and high blood triglycerides, affect the body. Information from this study may help improve the way lipid disorders are diagnosed or treated in the future. Participants in this study must be at least 2 years old. The study is being conducted in Bethesda, Maryland.

Are you an adult who is healthy or has problems with the level of cholesterol or other lipids in the blood? This study is gathering information on the risk factors for very high or very low levels of lipids, or fats, in the blood. Researchers will collect participants’ demographic information, medical history, and blood samples. To participate in this study, you must be at least 18 years old. This study takes place in Dallas, Texas.

Pneumonia is a major public health problem for the elderly and is one of the leading causes of hospitalization and death for this population, particularly for elderly nursing home residents. This planning grants seeks to establish a safe and effective dose of zinc supplementation with the goal to conduct a larger randomized clinical trial to study the effect of zinc supplementation in nursing home elderly with low serum zinc levels on the risk, antibiotic use, and duration of sick days with pneumonia. This project has significant potential to positively impact the health and quality of life in the elderly and to reduce the economic costs associated with their care.