Access to the newest clinical trials available at premier academic medical centers is an important aspect of providing innovative care to our patients. Our cardiovascular medicine and surgery experts are leading clinical trials as national principal investigators in multi-institutional studies, bringing the therapies of tomorrow to UPMC today.
The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute offers clinical trials in all sub-specialties of cardiovascular medicine and surgery, including heart failure, electrophysiology, heart valve disease, coronary artery disease, and more.
If you are considering participation in a clinical trial, it is important to:
Search the US government's clinical trial database now for heart and vascular trials.
PI: Sandeep Jain, MD
Research Coordinator: Eric Pasquantonio
The primary objective of this study is to determine if left atrial appendage closure with the WATCHMAN FLX™ device is a reasonable alternative to non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACS) in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Looking for patients with non-valvular atrial with CHA2DS2-VASc score of two or greater for men and three or greater for women.
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PI: Sandeep Jain, MD
Research Coordinator: Susan Sweeny
Study looking to evaluate safety and effectiveness of Abbott’s Nanostim LP system in patients who are indicated for VVI (R) pacemaker. Eligible subjects must have one of following: Chronic and/or permanent atrial fibrillation with two or three degree AV or bifascicular BBB, including slow ventricular rates associated with AFib; or NSR with two or three degree AV or BBB and a low level of physical activity or short expected lifespan (at least one year), or sinus bradycardia with infrequent pauses or unexplained syncope with electrophysiology (EP) findings.
PI: Sandeep Jain, MD
Research Coordinator: Susan Sweeny
Post-approval study to evaluate health outcomes in patients implanted with the OPTIMIZER™ Smart in a real-world setting. Looking for patients with heart failure who meet the criteria for cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) therapy. The OPTIMIZER device has been approved for standard of care implant. Looking for patients with New York Health Association (NYHA) class III symptoms and reduced (HFrEF) or moderately reduced ejection fraction (25-45%).
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PI: Raveen Bazazz, MD and Sandeep Jain, MD
Research Coordinator: Liz Benckart
The primary objective is to determine if left atrial appendage closure with the WATCHMA N FLX™ device is a reasonable alternative to oral anticoagulation following percutaneous catheter ablation for high-risk patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AFib). Looking for patients with non-valvular atrial with CHA2DS2-VASc score of two or greater for men and three or greater for women who underwent catheter ablation procedure for non-valvular AFib between 90-180 days prior (sequential) or will have ablation within 10 days of randomization (concomitant).
PI: Samir Saba, MD
Research Coordinator: Susan Sweeny
Study evaluating safety and effectiveness of the WiSE CRT System. The WiSE CRT System provides endocardial left ventricular stimulation, synchronized to the right ventricular pacing output pulse of a commercially available pacemaker, ICD, or CRT to achieve cardiac resynchronization therapy. Looking for previously untreatable CRT patients or high-risk bpgrades and meeting established CRT treatment criteria.
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PI: Sandeep Jain, MD
Research Coordinator: Eric Pasquantonio
The trial will evaluate changes in left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) between baseline (before CRT implant) and 12 months (post-randomization) in patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) devices programmed with SyncAV compared to patients with CRT devices programmed with fixed atrioventricular (AV) delay. Looking for patients to receive a new CRT implant or upgrade (Abbott CRT device and Abbott Quadripolar LV Lead) to an existing implantable cardioverter defibrillator/pacemaker implant with no prior LV lead placement AND have HF, LVEF ≤ 35%, LBBB, and intact atrioventricular conduction.
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PI: Mary Keebler, MD
Research Coordinator: Abbey Sung
A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical investigation of advanced heart failure patients with the HM3 with two different antithrombiotic regimens.
PI: Gavin Hickey, MD
Research Coordinator: Rachel McGargle
A prospective, multi-center, randomized, controlled, single blind clinical trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of the cordella pulmonary artery sensor system in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class III heart failure patients
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PI: Jess Huston, MD
Research Coordinator: Kristin Shoemaker
A phase 1/1b clinical trial of ABI-009 an mTOR inhibitor, for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
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PI: Mary Keebler, MD
Research Coordinator: Traci McGaha
A prospective, multi-center, observational registry of patients receiving HeartCare for surveillance.
PI: Catalin Toma, MD
Research Coordinator: Jenny Whitehead
A prospective, multi-center, dual arm pivotal study with 2:1 active concurrent control group allocation ratio. The Revivent TC system is indicated in patients suffering from symptomatic heart failure referred for treatment of left ventricular aneurysms.
PI: Conrad Smith, MD
Research Coordinator: Brianna Carbone
Prospective, randomized controlled study of the Triclip™ device in symptomatic patients with severe tricuspid regurgitation.
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PI: Prem Soman, MD
Research Coordinator: Tracy Nicholson
A phase 3 global, double-blind, randomized, placebo‑controlled study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ION-682884 in patients with transthyretin‑mediated amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR CM).
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PI: Catalin Toma, MD
Research Coordinator: Jenny Whitehead
This multicenter trial randomly allocates 3,500 patients with acute myocardial infarction and a hemoglobin concentration less than 10 g/dL to be treated either according to a liberal or restrictive blood transfusion strategy.
PI: John Pacella, MD
Research Coordinator: Jenny Whitehead
Randomized, double-blinded, sham controlled single cohort study designed to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of the Paradise renal denervation system in hypertensive subjects.
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PI: Tim Wong, MD
Research Coordinator: Jenny Whitehead
A multi-center, randomized, double blinded, placebo controlled, dose finding study to evaluate the safety and tolerability, pharmokinentics, and pharmacodynamics of CK-3773274 in adults with symptomatic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.
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PI: Catalin Toma, MD
Research Coordinator: Jenny Whitehead
Drug eluted balloon used for in stent re-stenosis.
PI: Jeff Fowler, MD
Research Coordinator: Brianna Carbone
Impella™ unloading to lessen heart failure after ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI).
PI: Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Research Coordinator: Missy Sanders Linger
This research project is testing a new investigational device for mitral regurgitation without the need for open heart surgery. The new investigational device is a mitral valve replacement called the Intrepid™ Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement (TMVR) System. The purpose of this clinical study is to determine if replacing the mitral valve without open-heart surgery is as safe and effective as standard mitral valve surgery in patients with similar medical conditions as you.
PI: Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Research Coordinator: Stephanie Trbovich
The purpose of this study is to learn more about how well this device works and to learn about the effects of following a particular set of steps when treating a patient with the Evolut PRO or EVOLUT PRO+ system.
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PI: Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Research Coordinator: Kristin Konopka
The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of a device called QuikClot Control+ Hemostatic Dressing to control mild and moderate bleeding known to occur at the access site into the heart, such as the sternum, or at the suture lines during a cardiac surgical procedure.
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PI: Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Research Coordinator: Missy Sanders Linger
The purpose of this trial is to evaluate a new investigational device called the Tendyne™ Mitral Valve System. The Tendyne Mitral Valve System is designed for the treatment of a diseased, damaged or malfunctioning mitral valve. This trial will collect information on how safe and effective this device is to treat a leaking mitral valve as compared to the commercially available (approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)) MitraClip® System. The MitraClip System consists of a delivery catheter and an implantable Clip that is designed to repair the mitral valve by clipping the two leaflets together.
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PI: Ibrahim Sultan, MD
Research Coordinator: Kristin Konopka
An international, multi-center, randomized, open-label, clinical trial comparing the safety and effectiveness of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) with the Edwards SAPIEN 3 or SAPIEN 3 Ultra transcatheter heart valve (THV) and optimal heart failure therapy (OHFT) versus OHFT alone in heart failure patients with moderate aortic stenosis.
The Pitt+Me Registry is a program at the University of Pittsburgh's Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) that engages researchers, patients, and volunteers from the greater Pittsburgh community in an effort to advance science and improve health for future generations.
We encourage you to join the more than 100,000 participants in the Pitt+Me Registry who have signed up to receive our newsletter and hear more about research opportunities that may be of interest.
Learn more about research studies and clinical trials that are related to heart and circulation.
An advantage in choosing the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute for your cardiovascular care is that many of our physicians are also nationally and internationally renowned physician-scientists. These experts maintain active clinical research and basic science laboratories funded by the National Institutes of Health. Learn more about the centers and cores at the Pittsburgh Heart, Lung, Blood, and Vascular Medicine Institute and how our multidisciplinary team of scientists is advancing research in the heart, lung, and blood systems.