Research Projects & Grants

For Profit Organization

  • A Phase 2/3 Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-blind, Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy, Safety, and Pharmacokinetics of Vericiguat in Pediatric Participants with Heart Failure due to Systemic Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (VALOR), Role: PI, Merck, (03/2025 - 03/2026) Status: Approved

Internal

  • Extended long-term outcomes of pediatric heart transplant recipients at a single center: The evolution of practice from Baby Fae to the current era of steroid avoidance and mTOR inhibitors, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (06/2024) Status: Approved
  • Pediatric heart transplant study group collaborative database, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (03/2025 - 03/2026) Status: Approved
  • A Novel Rejection Risk Calculator for Pediatric Patients >1 Year After Heart Transplantation: Do I really need that routine surveillance biopsy?, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (12/2023) Status: Approved
  • Incidence of post-transplant Iymphoproliferative disorder in pediatric heart transplant patients: Does maintenance immunosuppression regimen matter?, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (05/2023) Status: Approved
  • Advanced cardiac therapies improving outcomes network to improve the health of pediatric and congenital heart disease patients with heart failure, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (12/2019) Status: Approved
  • Comparing the prevalence and severity of CMV viremia in pediatric heart transplant recipients with or without mTOR inhibitor immunosuppression., Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (10/2024) Status: Approved
  • Ebstein-Barr virus associated smooth muscle tumors in pediatric cardiac transplant recipients, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Pediatrics, (04/2025) Status: Approved

Other Research

  • Principal Investigator, Pediatric Research Initiative Grant Recipient: "A Novel Rejection Risk Calculator for Pediatric Patients >1 Year After Heart Transplantation: Do I really need that routine surveillance biopsy?"  IRB #5230514.    Role: Principal Investigator Study: A Novel Rejection Risk Calculator for Pediatric Patients >1 Year After Heart Transplantation: Do I really need that routine surveillance biopsy? Description: Recipient of the 2023 Pediatric Research Initiative Grant in conjunction with two resident researchers. Funded $17,500 for statistician and faculty salary support. The study is a retrospective database analysis utilizing the Loma Linda Pediatric Heart Transplant Database. We aim to create an objective tool that can risk-stratify heart transplant recipients and help guide clinical decisions regarding utility of routine surveillance biopsies for an individual patient based on their individual risk factors.  (06/2023 - Present)
  • Principal Investigator, Enduring Hearts and Pediatric Heart Transplant Society Research Grant Recipient: "Chronic corticosteroid immunosuppression in African American pediatric heart transplant recipients: risk without reward?"  IRB #51328.   Awarded a research grant from Enduring Hearts foundation to provide data support, statistical support and faculty support for my proposed study regarding the utility of planned cortiocosteroid use in African American pediatric heart transplant recipients.  (01/2023 - Present)
  • Site Principal Investigator: "Efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetics of vericiguat in pediatric participants with heart failure due to left ventricular systolic dysfunction."   Phase 2/3 adaptive randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multisite, double-blind study of vericiguat in pediatric participants with HF due to LV systolic dysfunction consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy and NT-proBNP level between 500 and 6000 pg/mL within 30days before randomization. (05/2022 - Present)
  • Site Principal Investigator: Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) to improve the health of pediatric and congenital heart disease patients with heart failure.   (12/2021 - Present)
  • Site Co-Investigator: Pediatric Heart Transplant Society collaborative database.   (12/2021 - Present)