Inova’s Involvement in Cardiology and Lung Disease Research Drives Care Improvements
Discovery and implementation of novel therapies through clinical research leads to improved patient care. The participation by Inova Heart and Vascular Institute (IHVI) in research furthers Inova’s commitment to excellence. Clinical research also allows patients to have access to leading-edge treatments and facilitates the identification of even more effective therapeutics for the future.
Research areas of focus
The incidence of cardiovascular disease is expected to continue to rise due to an aging population and increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, underscoring the pressing need to focus on expanding treatment options. Patients with advanced lung disease continue to experience severe, disruptive symptoms with a limited number of effective treatments available.
“We strive to be both a regional and national leader in expanding treatment options and clinical care strategies that improve patient outcomes,” said Dr. Christopher M. O’Connor, President of IHVI.
IHVI’s robust cardiac research program focuses on several areas of great need, including advanced heart failure, structural heart disease, cardiovascular surgery, critical care, vascular disease and cardiogenic shock. For advanced lung disease, studies underway focus on interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Serving a highly diverse patient population that reflects national demographics positions IHVI as an ideal site for providing data across a multicultural population. Historically clinical trial participants skewed more toward whites and male enrollment. “Not only do we serve a population that varies in ethnicity, gender and socioeconomic status, but we have also established a diverse care team that meets patients where they are,” said Yihenew Abetu, Director of Cardiology Research for IHVI.
IHVI has been the top-enrolling site for several cardiovascular and lung studies and has been awarded competitive federal, industry and nonprofit grants. Its researchers regularly collaborate with academic medical centers, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Heart Association, the National Institutes of Health, and the pharmaceutical and device industry, including Abbott, Medtronic and Amgen, among others.
Researchers at IHVI are also developing and validating genomic biomarkers that can inform new techniques for improving long-term outcomes for patients with advanced heart failure. Early analyses through an ongoing collaboration with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and the Genomic Research Alliance for Transplantation hold great promise for developing strategies to reduce the complications of immunosuppression after transplantation.
Investigators on the advanced lung disease team are collaborating on studies to increase the number of lungs available for transplant using an innovative technique to rehabilitate lungs initially considered not suitable for transplantation. The technique, known as ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP), increases the pool of lungs available for transplant, helping to close the wide gap between supply and demand.
Numerous ongoing studies and trials in interventional therapies, algorithms for heart failure, mechanical complications of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), new techniques for closing a hole between the upper chambers of the heart (patent foramen ovale) and advanced cardiac imaging have expanded patients’ treatment options, often allowing them access to exclusive and innovative therapies before they’re widely available.
Continual improvements in patient care
“As we look to the future, we plan to expand our research efforts to include patients at more Inova facilities, including Mount Vernon, Alexandria, Loudoun and Fair Oaks,” said Dr. Christopher M. O’Connor, President of IHVI.
Integral to the success of the research program is the dedication and collaboration between Inova’s clinical and research teams. “Our research nurses, coordinators and assistants work closely with the investigators who bring new trials to our patient population,” said Edwinia Battle, Director of Advanced Lung Disease Research for IHVI. “We couldn’t do what we do without their dedication and hard work.”
Find Inova Heart and Vascular Institute’s latest clinical trials.