ISHLT and ISHLT Foundation Fund Research and Career Development with Grants
Summary
The second cycle opens in May 2023.I am truly grateful for the strong industry support of our ISHLT research grants, said Kathleen Grady, PhD, RN, MS, FAAN, Chair of the ISHLT Grants and Awards Committee, which contribute to scientific breakthroughs in the areas of advanced heart and lung disease across the lifespan and career development of new investigators. The grant was awarded to two recipients.Research Title: Angiotensin II Deficiency in Cardiogenic Shock: Using Novel Translational Insights into Cardiogenic Shock Pathophysiology to Guide the Timing and Optimal Use of Temporary Mechanical Circulatory SupportPurpose: The project aims to investigate the role that the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system plays in cardiogenic shock outcomes.With the funding, the team will be able to explore 1) whether Angiotensin II deficiency contributes to the pathophysiology of cardiogenic shock, 2) whether cardiogenic shock can be identified earlier in patients with chronic failure by monitoring circulating Angiotensin II levels, 3) whether Angiotensin II levels can be used to inform optimal timing of temporary mechanical support initiation, escalation, and de-escalation, and 4) whether there is sufficient rationale to study Angiotensin II as therapy to improve survival in patients requiring temporary mechanical circulatory support.Purpose: The project aims to investigate the potential benefits of left ventricle (LV) venting/unloading for cardiogenic shock patients receiving veno-arterial extracorporeal life support (VA-ECLS).With the funding, Dr. Meani will conduct a 30-month national observational study that aims to 1) systematically analyze LV unloading in a large prospective national cohort of VA-ECLS treated patients, providing detailed information on indications, timing, type and modality among a wide spectrum of clinical conditions, (2) compare and evaluate the different LV unloading techniques in terms of efficacy and outcomes in patients supported with VA-ECLS, (3) finally propose a common definition for LV overload and unloading.Abiomed, Inc., part of Johnson & Johnson MedTech, is a leading provider of medical technology that provides circulatory support and oxygenation. Their products are designed to enable the heart to rest and recover by improving blood flow and/or provide sufficient oxygenation to those in respiratory failure.Given by ISHLT in partnership with the International Consortium of Circulatory Assist Clinicians (ICCAC)Research Title: No Patient Left Behind: Increasing VAD Patient Awareness & Access to Social Aid ProgramsPurpose: The study will establish a novel post discharge social wellness visit to address patients declining engagement and concerns of extraordinary socioeconomic challenges.Dr. Fauvel hopes that by enrolling patients in state and federally funded programs, they can achieve better follow up, have less readmissions, better navigate healthcare, and improve their overall health literacy. Amancherla hopes to understand how episodes of acute rejection can result in cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) using multiple techniques such as single-nuclear multiomics to look at individual cells response to the therapy.Enduring Hearts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding innovative research aimed at increasing longevity and improving the lives of children living with transplanted hearts.The new ISHLT Extracorporeal Photopheresis Immunomodulation in Thoracic Transplantation Challenge Grant, supported by Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, funds research aimed at studying the use of extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) immunomodulation to improve outcomes in thoracic transplant patients.Research Title: Description of the Effect of Extracorporeal Photopheresis on Markers of Cardiac Function, Net State of Immunosuppression and Microcirculatory DysfunctionPurpose: The study will investigate the effect of immunomodulatory therapy (photopheresis) on cardiac function, markers of net state of immunosuppression, and microcirculatory dysfunction in heart transplant patients that have developed donor specific antibodies.Mallinckrodt is a global business focused on providing specialty pharmaceutical products and therapies for rare and critical conditions as well as specialty generics and active pharmaceutical ingredients whose mission is centered on listening for needs and delivering solutions to better serve patients and customers.For more information about ISHLT and ISHLT Foundation Research Grants, visit ishlt.org/research-data/grants-awards/research-grants.