Cardiovascular Clinical Trials

Doctor in white coat consoles patient outside clinic. The Krannert Cardiovascular Research Center at Indiana University School of Medicine offers patients with cardiovascular disease an opportunity to participate in clinical trials.

Through clinical trials, faculty try to better understand ischemic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmia, cardiooncology, cardiopulmonary research and lipid disorders in cardiovascular disease. We search for solutions to slow disease progression and improve outcomes and quality of life.

We are committed to understanding, preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases and improving cardiovascular health here in Indiana and worldwide.

Our clinical trials evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a potential drug or medical device to advance medical care and improve patient outcomes.

See the following six cardiovascular subspecialties for more information. Participating in a clinical trial provides both a patient access to new therapies as they are evaluated while providing more knowledge to specialists interested in improving cardiovascular outcomes for their patients.

Why should I participate in a Clinical Trial?

Four diverse seniors pose in front of tennis courts, wearing puffy jackets and hats in the fall. An advantage of specialty cardiovascular care at an academic health center is access to clinical trials, which could provide lifesaving or life-changing alternatives to regular medical treatments. These clinical trials may be available to you at an affiliated clinic or a partnering site that may be closer to home.

Clinical research has led to several advances in cardiovascular medicine since the 1950s. New and improved therapies have brought more treatment options to patients, reduced mortality and improved quality of life. These advances have ranged from implantable defibrillators, blood pressure medications, blood thinners, beta blockers and even aspirin — and several other interventional procedures and therapies.

Advances in clinical research would not have been possible without patients who volunteered to participate. Many people enroll in a clinical trial to see if their symptoms or condition can improve, to help future generations of patients and to increase the knowledge base of those treating and researching cardiovascular disease. Clinical trial participants often receive novel therapeutic interventions in addition to the standard of care in a controlled study that is reviewed by an Institutional Review Board and supported by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Clinical trial participants may also appreciate the extra attention they receive through being monitored by the clinical research team during a trial.

Select a Clinical Research Category

Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology

Cardiopulmonary

Cardiooncology

Heart Failure

Lipid Disorders

Ischemic Heart Disease

Participate in one of our cardiovascular clinical trials

Contact the Clinical Research Team to learn more about how you or your loved one can participate in a clinical trial at IU School of Medicine.

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A mature black woman hold a pill in her hand before taking it.

What do clinical trials accomplish?

Clinical trials evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a potential drug or medical device to advance medical care. Today’s treatments are based on the findings of previous clinical trials. Results of clinical trials add to the body of knowledge that the next generation of innovative therapies are based on.

Clinical trials range from an early phase to a late stage clinical trial that examines the uses of procedures or medicines that are in the last phases of approval before they become broadly available.

Am I eligible?

Clinical trials have strict eligibility requirements. Criteria may vary depending on age, gender, disease progression or other specifications outlined in the trial. Our research coordinators may be able to answer questions and help you enroll once your eligibility is confirmed. Please contact us to learn more.

You can also join the All IN for Health Registry to be alerted about an upcoming study.

This illustrates a hand of a person signing a consent form while a health care professional's hand points to the paper.

What is informed consent?

Before you or your loved one decide to enroll in a clinical trials, our team will describe the study in detail. This is an opportunity to ask questions and get them answered. They will share the possible benefits and risks of participating in specific clinical trials and outline what is required from a study participant, including the clinical trial duration. Once informed about the clinical research study, you can decide whether to enroll in a clinical trial.

Clinical trials that are offered by IU School of Medicine uphold the highest ethical standards to protect patient information and confidentiality.

Participating in clinical research is always voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time during a trial.

A track record of excellence

Over the last 70 years, IU School of Medicine faculty have contributed to pivotal clinical research. That work has led to understanding the mechanics of fibrillation and defibrillation, the development of echocardiography and the pathogeneses and molecular mechanisms associated with heart failure. Our contributions to clinical research have helped inform how cardiologists can better care for patients at various stages of cardiovascular disease and we continue to discover new pathways to guide the profession. Many of our clinical faculty are recognized internationally for their research and clinical contributions.

Our interdisciplinary team conducts research that integrates imaging, informatics, pathology and engineering to develop novel diagnostics and therapeutics. With dedication to rigorous enrollment procedures, participants receive thorough explanations of risks and benefits before participating in clinical studies.

Studies can range from federal-funded investigator-initiated clinical trials to industry-sponsored clinical trials and foundational/non-profit-sponsored clinical trial research, like those made available through the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology. Our current federally funded research includes those supported by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Our clinical research team

Our clinical research team consists of clinical research coordinators, physician-scientists, clinician research leadership and administrators to ensure the successful delivery of clinical trials from start to finish. They are responsible for the continuous enrollment of eligible participants, clinical data reporting, patient care and monitoring and ethical and regulatory concerns.