The University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center and the University of Pittsburgh will conduct a study to evaluate the benefits of earlier implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) in patients with heart failure.
The study will assess if patients with heart failure less advanced than that of LVAD recipients and who are not eligible for a heart transplant will do better with LVAD implantation, when compared to current medical therapy.
The device used in the study will be HeartWare’s LVAD, a battery-operated continuous blood flow pump which is designed to be implanted surgically within the heart.
The universities have received $13.3m funding from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and HeartWare for the study.
The study will enroll 100 patients across the US, including the U-M and Pittsburgh.
LVADs are currently used in patients with very advanced heart failure, as a last resort to help them survive the wait for a heart transplant or as a permanent alternative to heart transplant.