Clinical studies used to develop and test new disease treatments are helping OSU Heart Center work at the forefront of innovative heart care. The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine's Clinical and Translational Research Organization, in collaboration with Ohio State’s Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute (DHLRI) and Ohio State's Ross Heart Hospital, currently manages more than 80 trials impacting nearly 1,000 patients.
Clinical Trial Objectives
The objective of any OSU Heart Center clinical trial is to bridge the gap between research and patient care to determine effective, safe treatments for cardiovascular conditions, says Garrie Haas, MD, professor of Medicine and director of Ohio State's Cardiovascular Clinical Research Unit (CCRU).
OSU Heart Center conducts a wide variety of trials, including studies investigating new drugs and devices across all areas of cardiovascular care, says Haas.
Innovation in Action: CardioFocus™ trial
One such study is the CardioFocus™ Endoscopic Ablation System trial, which will examine the success and safety of a balloon catheter ablation system in treating patients with paroxysmal (non-persistent) atrial fibrillation (AF), a common heart rhythm problem. During the procedure, a balloon-tipped catheter is threaded into the heart through an incision in the patient’s leg. The balloon is expanded to ablate, or destroy, the tissue causing the heart’s rhythm problem.
“Since we’ve discovered that this type of AF is triggered by rapidly firing tissues near the four pulmonary veins, we’ll be treating the patient with a balloon catheter, using an endoscope to view the procedure,” says Kathryn Crow, clinical research specialist in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. “Electrical isolation of the pulmonary veins will then be accomplished using laser energy. This procedure offers patients an alternative to anti-arrhythmic therapy, currently the most commonly prescribed treatment for AF.”
Innovation in Action: Cardio Concepts trial
Utilizing new, untested therapy options is also critical to the Cardio Concepts trial, which will explore new ways of treating central sleep apnea, a common disorder in heart failure patients. The Cardiac Concepts trial is designed for patients with central sleep apnea, a disorder characterized by cycles of hyperventilation followed by periods of stopped breathing during sleep.
“This dangerous condition prevents patients with heart failure from getting needed, deep sleep and has the potential to increase blood pressure and heart rate,” says Brian Patt, clinical research coordinator in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine.
The Cardiac Concepts trial will utilize an implantable lasso catheter that will deliver stimulation to a specific nerve, helping regulate patients’ breathing, says Patt.
OSU Heart Center’s Innovative Advantage and
Personalized Heart Care Focus
Ohio State University Medical Center’s status as an academic medical center provides the Heart Center with a direct link to the basic sciences, making it easier to translate research to the clinical realm, Dr. Haas said.
OSU Heart Center’s participation in high-profile trials like CardioFocus™ and Cardio Concepts also advances its aggressive, personalized approach to disorders like AF. This participation, combined with increased genetics research, ensures that treatments coming out of clinical trials will offer the most personalized patient care.
For more information, or to find out how you can participate in one of OSU Heart Center’s clinical trials, call 614-292-1616 or view our heart research information.
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