Clinical Trials
In conjunction with the University Health Care’s commitment to research, the Cardiac Mechanical Support Program strives to advance knowledge through innovative basic and clinical research and translate our discoveries into applications that help people. University of Utah Hospital was a pioneer in mechanical circulatory support with the implantation of the world’s first artificial heart device in 1982. Since then, the program continues to advance technologically innovative care and research with participation in clinical trials such as the landmark REMATCH trial that demonstrated the efficacy of using the HeartMate XVE LVAD as permanent (destination) therapy rather than as a bridge to transplant. The Cardiac Mechanical Support Program also participated in the RELIANT trial, evaluating the Novacor LVAD for patients who are not able to receive a heart transplant. The Cardiac Mechanical Support Program participates in the National Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) database collecting information on all patients with ventricular assist devices to help clinicians, scientists, and industry collaborate and establish outcome standards for device application and study patient-device interactions.
The Cardiac Mechanical Support Program also works closely with the division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiology in studying the basic physiology of heart failure and new treatment options such as stem cell research (Aastrom), The Heart Failure Network (LINK to www.hfnetwork.org), and Assessing Changes in Myocardial Tissue and Blood in Patients with Advanced Heart Disease.
(More information is available about each study at www.clinicaltrials.gov)
