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  7. Research and Scholarly Activity

Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Research and Scholarly Activity

A major contributor to the enhancement of a scholarly attitude is active participation in one or more research projects, ideally followed by presentation of the work at a national meeting and publication of a paper in a peer-reviewed journal.

At AHN, we’re committed to providing our cardiology fellows with rewarding research experiences. We encourage fellows to present at national meetings and submit manuscripts for publication in leading journals. In recent years, several fellows have published peer-reviewed journal articles and have presented numerous abstracts, posters, and oral presentations at local, regional, national and international meetings such as the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC).

Program faculty members mentor fellows in a wide range of research interests. We support projects in quality improvement and patient safety. Fellows are allotted one month of research during the first and second years. We urge fellows to initiate projects during this time with completion occurring during the remainder of the training period. All fellows must present their research or quality improvement projects at the end of the year to all faculty.

A unique aspect of research at AHN is the collaborative opportunities available with research scientists at Carnegie Mellon University. Fellows may participate in ongoing projects or initiate new ones in cardiovascular disease.

The Division of Cardiology vigorously supports applications for American Heart Association (AHA) fellowship research grants, as well as funding from other local agencies. Opportunities in basic cardiovascular research are also available at the Cardiovascular Research Institute should any of the trainees be interested.

Please view our ongoing and published research by following the link to the Cardiovascular Research Newsletter.

2019 - 2020 Publications

  1. Alpert CM, Sinha SS, Cullen MW, Teaching Tomorrow’s Teachers: An Innovative Model of Clinician- Educator Development for Fellows-in-Training. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 2019 Jun 11; 73(22):2900-03.
  2. Joshi AA, Lerman JB, Sajja AP, Dahiya G, Kyvernitakis A, Halbreiner MS, Bailey S, Alpert CM, Poornima IG, Murali S, Benza RL, Kanwar M, and Raina A. “Sex-Based Differences in Left Ventricular Assist Device Utilization: Insights From the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2004 to 2016.” Circ Heart Failure 2019 Sep 13, 12(9).
  3. Benza R, Doyle M, Lasorda D., Parikh K, Badie N, Ginn G, Airhart S, Franco V, Kanwar M, Murali S, Raina A, Agarwal R, Rajagopal S, White J, Biederman R. Monitoring Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Using an Implantable Hemodynamic Sensor. Chest. 2019 Jun 29. PMID: 31265832.
  4. Movahedi F., Kormos R., Lohmueller L., Seese L., Kanwar M, Murali S., Padman R., Antaki J. Sequential Pattern mining of Longitudinal Adverse Events After Left Ventricular Assist Device Implant. arXiv:1907.07669, 2019.
  5. Kanwar M, Raina, A., Lohmueller, L. et al. The Use of Risk Assessment Tools and Prognostic Scores in Managing Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Curr Hypertens Rep (2019) 21: 45. PMID: 310251235.
  6. Verlinden NJ, Walter C, Kanwar M, Raina A. Transition From Oral Treprostinil to Selexipag in a Patient With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Ann Pharmacother. 2019 Apr 4:1060028019843665. PMID: 30947510.
  7. Khush K, Patel J, Pinney S, Kao A, Alharethi R, DePasquale E, Ewald G, Berman P, Kanwar M, Hiller D, Yee JP, Woodward RN, Hall S, Kobashigawa J. Non‐invasive Detection of Graft Injury after Heart Transplantation Using Donor‐Derived Cell‐Free DNA: a Prospective Multi‐Center Study. Am Journal of Transplant. 2019 Mar 5. PMID: 30835940.
  8. Benza RL, Corris P, Ghofrani H, Kanwar M, McLaughlin V., Raina A and Simonneau G. Switching to riociguat: A potential treatment strategy for the management of CTEPH and PAH. Pulm Circ. 2019 Feb. PMID: 30803329.
  9. Kanwar M, Lohmueller LC, Kormos RL, Teuteberg JJ, Rogers JG, Lindenfeld J, Bailey SH, McIlvennan CK, Benza RL, Murali S, Antaki J. Risk Assessment in Patients with a Left Ventricular Assist Device across INTERMACS Profiles using Bayesian Analysis. ASAIO J. 2019; 65: 436–442. PMID: 30688695.
  10. Airhart S, Verlinden N, Badie N, Raina A, Benza R. Use of an implantable wireless pulmonary pressure monitor during transition of therapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2019 Feb;38(2):227-230. Epub 2018 Nov 24. PMID: 30691597.
  11. Gill SS, Doyle M, Thompson DV, Williams R, Yamrozik J, Grant SB, Biederman RWW. Can 3D RVEF by Prognostic for the Non-ischemic Cardiomyopathy Patient but not the Ischemic Cardiomyopathy Patient?  A Cardiovascular MRI Study. Diagnostics 2019 Jan 23;9(1).
  12. Khidr S, Doyle M, Rayarao G, Abdel Ghany M, Hasan-Ali H, Fouad DA, Belden, W, Biederman RW. Pulmonary Vein Remodeling Following Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation-do Pulmonary Veins Represent Only an Epiphenomenon?  A Cardiac MRI Study. Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2019 Feb9(1):8-1
  13. Mehmood M, Biederman RWW, Markert RJ, McCarthy MC, Tchorz, KM. Right Heart Function in Critically Ill Patients at Risk for Acute Right Heart Failure:  A Description of Right Ventricular-Pulmonary Arterial Coupling, Ejection Fraction and Pulmonary Artery Pulsatility Index.  Heart Lung Circ. 2019 June 20.pii:S1443-9506(19)31322-8.
  14. Benza, RL, Doyle M,  Lasorda D, Parikh KS, Correa-Jaque P, Badie N, Ginn G, Airhart S, Franco V, Kanwar MK, Murali S, Raina A, Agarwal R, Rajagopal S, White J, Biederman R.  Monitoring Pulmonary Artery Hypertension Using an Implantable Hemodynamic Sensor.  Chest. 2019 Dec:156(6):1176-1186.
  15. Biederman RWW, Doyle M, Correa-Jaque P, Rayarao G, Benza RL.  Integrated Use of Cardiac MRI and the CardioMEMS, HF System in PAH: the Utility of coincident Pressure and Volume in RV Failure-the NHLBI-VITA Trial.  Cardiovasc Diagn Ther. 2019 Oct:9(5):492-501.
  16. Biederman RWW, Doyle M. All That Glitters is Not Gold:  The Fate of the ISCHEMIA Trial. Cath Lab Digest. 2020 March Vol 28(3).
  17. Gajjar K, Biederman R.  A Prominent Brachiocephalic Vein Masquerading as an Aortic Dissection Flap on Transthoracic Echocardiogram:  A Case for Multimodality Imaging.  Echocardiography. 2020 Feb;37(2):351-355.
  18. Reddy S, Padadino A, Silva N, Doyle M, Vido D, Biederman W.  A Systemic review for sudden cardiac death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with Myocardial Fibrosis: A CMR LGE Study.  J Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine  2019 Nov:187-191.
  19. Thagaraj AK, Hughes-Doichev R, Biederman RWW. Provocative maneuvers to improve patent foramen ovale detection: A brief review of the literature. Echocardiography. 2019 Apr;36(4):783-786.
  20. Chaturvedi A, Kanwar M, Chandrika P, Thenappan T, Raina A, Benza RL. National trends and inpatient outcomes of pulmonary arterial hypertension related hospitalizations - Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample Database [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jun 27]. Int J Cardiol. 2020;S0167-5273(20)33414-8. PMID: 32603739
  21. Benza RL, Corris PA, Klinger JR, Langleben D, Naeije R, Simonneau G, Ghofrani HA, Jansa P, Rosenkranz S, Scelsi L, Thenappan T, Raina A, Meier C, Busse D, Hoeper MM. Identifying potential parameters associated with response to switching from a PDE5i to riociguat in RESPITE. Int J Cardiol. 2020 May 24:S0167-5273(19)34645-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2020.05.044. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32461118.
  22. Po JR, Tong M, Meeran T, Potluri A, Raina A, Doyle M, Biederman R. Quantification of Cardiac Output with Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension. J Clin Imaging Sci. 2020 May 2;10:26. PMID: 32363088.
  23. Sokos GG, Raina A. Understanding the early mortality benefit observed in the PARADIGM-HF trial: considerations for the management of heart failure with sacubitril/valsartan. Vasc Health Risk Manag. 2020 Jan 16;16:41-51. PMID: 32021227
  24. Kanwar MK. Biomarkers in pulmonary arterial hypertension: Moving closer toward precision medicine? J Heart Lung Transplant. April 2020, Volume 39, Issue 4, 287–288. PMID: 32199588
  25. Kanwar MK, Rajagopal K, Itoh A, Silvestry SC, Uriel N, Cleveland JC, et al. Impact of left ventricular assist device implantation on mitral regurgitation: An analysis from the MOMENTUM 3 trial. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020;39(6):529-37. PMID: 32279919
  26. Kanwar MK, Stehlik J. Sex-related Differences in Heart Disease: Another Piece of the Puzzle. Journal of cardiac failure. 2020;26(6):505-6. PMID: 32416234
  27. Kanwar M, McDonnell BJ, Rosenblum H, Stohr EJ, Cornwell WK. Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients Implanted with Left Ventricular Assist Devices. Bionic Women and Men Part 3. Exp Physiol. 2020;105(5):759-62. PMID: 32103556
  28. Buchanan C, Kanwar M, Cockroft JR, McDonnell BJ, Stohr EJ, Cornwell WK. Cardiovascular, Cerebrovascular and Exercise Responses Among Patients Supported with Left Ventricular Assist Devices. Bionic Women and Men Part 4. Exp Physiol. 2020;105(5):763-6. PMID: 32105385
  29. Scott JV, Garnett CE, Kanwar MK, Stockbridge NL, Benza R. Enrichment Benefits of Risk Algorithms for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Clinical Trials. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2020 
  30. Chaturvedi A, Kanwar M, Chandrika P, Thenappan T, Raina A, Benza RL. National trends and inpatient outcomes of pulmonary arterial hypertension related hospitalizations - Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample Database. Int J Cardiol. 2020. PMID: 32603739
  31. Kanwar MK, Gomberg-Maitland M, Hoeper M, Pausch C, Pittow D, Strange G, et al. Risk stratification in pulmonary arterial hypertension using Bayesian analysis. Eur Respir J. 2020. PMID: 32366491
  32. Kanwar MK, McIlvennan CK, Lohmueller LC, Bailey SH, Rogers JG, Teuteberg J, et al. Defining Optimal Outcomes in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices. ASAIO Journal. 2020 
  33. Garan AR, Kanwar M, Thayer K, Burkhoff D, Kapur N. Complete Hemodynamic Profiling with Pulmonary Artery Catheters in Cardiogenic Shock is Associated with Lower In-Hospital Mortality. JACC Heart Failure. 2020 
  34. Benza RL, Kanwar MK, Raina A, Scott JV, Zhao CL, Selej M, et al. Development and Validation of an Abridged Version of the REVEAL 2.0 Risk Score Calculator, REVEAL Lite 2, for use in Patients with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Chest. 2020. 
  35. A Prominent Brachiocephalic Vein Masquerading as an Aortic Dissection Flap on Transthoracic Echocardiogram: A Case for Multimodality Imaging K. Gajjar, R. Biederman. Echocardiography, 2020
  36. Dahiya G, Kyvernitakis A, Joshi AA, Lasorda DM, Bailey SH, Raina A, Biederman RWW, Kanwar MK. Impact of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement on Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, Diastolic Dysfunction and Quality of Life in Patients with Preserved Left Ventricular Function. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. Under Review.
  37. Joshi AA, Lerman JB, Sajja AP, Dahiya G, Gokhale AV, Dey AK, Kyvernitakis A, Bailey S, Alpert CM, Poornima IG, Murali S, Benza RL, Kanwar M, Amresh Raina A. Gender Disparities in Left Ventricular Assist Device Utilization: Insights from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Circulation: Heart Failure. 2019. 12(9):e006082. 
  38. Poornima IG, Shields K, Kuller LH, Manzi SM, Ramsey-Goldman R, Richardson C, Rhew E, Dunlop DD, Song J, Edmundowicz D, Kondos GT, Carr JJ, Langman CB, Price H, Chung AH, Santelices LB, Mackey RH. Associations of osteoprotegerin with coronary artery calcification among women with systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy controls. Lupus. 2018 Jan 1: PMID: 29310535
  39. Jayshiv T. Badlani, Indu G. Poornima, Amit Thosani and Robert W.W. Biederman. Cardiac Sarcoidosis Causing Ventricular Tachycardia After Myocardial Infarction. A Shocking Diagnosis Volume 2, Issue 7, June 2020
  40. Begg A, Dahiya G, Kyvernitakis A, Biederman RWW. The Use of Contrast-Enhanced Transthoracic Echocardiography for Spiral Variant Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Echocardiography. Under Review.
  41. Pappan N, Kyvernitakis A, Kashyap K, Marshall E, Alpert CM, Biederman RWW, Hughes-Doichev RA. Optimizing Clinical Decision Making in the Unstable Patient: Uncovering a Left Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm with an Ultrasound Enhancing Agent. Cardiovascular Imaging Case Rep. Under Review.
  42. Panchal A, Kyvernitakis A, Mikolich JR, Biederman RWW. Contemporary Review of Cardiac Imaging in COVID-19 Patients: Is There a Role for Cardiac MRI? JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. Under Review.
  43. Po J, Tong M, Meeran T, Potluri A, Raina A, Doyle M, Biederman R. Quantification of Cardiac Output with Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Pulmonary Hypertension. J Clin Imaging Sci. 2020;10:26.
  44. Marques T, Fernandes A, Dantas R, Melo A, Biederman R, Aras R. Clinical heart failure stratification through native T1 mapping: Experience of a referral service. Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia. 2020.
  45. Gopalakrishnan P, Biederman R. Impact of the 2016 ASE/EACVI Guidelines on diastolic function reporting in routine clinical practice. Echocardiograph.  2020;37:546-553. 
  46. Pappan N, Kyvernitakis A, Kashyap K, Marshall E, Alpert C, Biederman R, Hughes-Doichev R. Taking the Time to Get it Bright: Use of Ultrasound Enhancing Agent Redirects Clinical Course of an Unstable Patient. Accepted, Journal of Cardiology Cases. August 2020

2019 - 2020 Posters

  1. Axell-House D, Jiang Y, Kyvernitakis A, Lewis RE, Raad II, Kontoyiannis DP. Breakthrough Mucormycosis (BT-MCR) on antifungals having Mucorales activity portrays worse prognosis compared to BT-MCR on mold-active antifungals with no Mucorales activity. The Annual Infectious Diseases Society of America ID Week meeting. October 2-6, 2019, Washington, DC.
  2. Moore, T. , Reddy, S. , Poornima, I. Cardiac FDG-PET Used To Guide Treatment In a Patient With Multivessel Coronary Disease and Refractory Ventricular Tachycardia. Moore, T. , Reddy, S. , Poornima, I. Presented at ACC National E-meeting, 3/28/20.
  3. Wetzel A, Gevenosky L,  Doyle M, Dahiya G, Kyvernitakis A, Williams R, Lombardi R, Shah M, Biederman RWW. Examining the Issues of Pacemaker/ICD Lead Parameters as a Function of an MRI Exam; Impact of the Peri-MRI Effect. The Annual American Heart Association Meeting. November 16-18, 2019, Philadelphia, PA.
  4. Biederman RW, Gevenosky L,  CMR Effects on Pacemaker/ICD Device Inherent Stability; an In Vivo Insight.  JCMR Feb 2019. 546041.
  5. Williams R, Biederman RW.  Evaluating LV Noncompaction:  Are We Doing Enough?  JCMR Feb 2019.  552071.
  6. Biederman RW, Rayarao G.  SPACE: Slice Position Acquired Canting Effect in CMRI and Its Implications.  JCMR Feb 2019. 546072.
  7. Biederman RW, Gevenosky L.  CMR Effects on Pacemaker/ICD Stability; an In Vivo Study.  JCMR Feb 2019. 546115.
  8. Biederman RW, Gopalakrishnan P.  What Else Can We Image in the MRI Scanner?  Should We Advance Beyond Pacemakers and ICDs?  JCMR Feb 2019. 551471
  9. Biederman RW.  Myocardial Cell Tension Drives Population Distribution in Sickness and in Health.  JCMR Feb 2019. 545905.
  10. Biederman RWW, Doyle M, Rayarao G.  Myocardial cell Tension Drives Population Distribution in Sickness and in Health.  JACC 2019, 73 (9Supplement 1) 828.
  11. Badlani JT, Veer M, Biederman R.  Strange Returns-Concomitant Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return and Missing Pulmonary Artery: Root Cause for Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension?  JACC 2019, 73 (Supplement 1) 2509.
  12. Biederman RW, Gevenosky L, Samar H, Yamrozik J, Williams R, Lombardi R, Shah M, Bonnet C, Doyle M.  Can Efficacy Eclipse Safety?  The Additive Value of Pacers/ICDs in the CMRI Environment.  JACC 2019, 73 (Supplement 1) 348.
  13. Veer M, Chaturvedi A, Biederman R, Bailey S, Khalil R, Slemenda C, Doyle M, Farah V. Systolic Blood Pressure Post Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Predicts Mortality.  JACC 2019, 73 (Supplement 1) 1353.
  14. Chaturvedi A, Buchanich J, Yang C, Gao Q, Chandrika P, Sharma T, Castagnaro M, Murali S, Benza R, Hadi A, Biederman R, Poornima I, Alpert C.  Trends and Outcomes of Cardiac Amyloidosis Related Hospitalizations in the United States:  Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample Database from 2006 through 2014.  JACC 2019, 73 (Supplement 1) 916.
  15. Biederman RW, Gevenosky L, Williams R, Lombardi R, Bonnet C, Shah M, Doyle M.  CMR Effects on Pacemaker/ICD Stability; An in vivo Study. Circulation 2019:140:A11500.
  16. Biederman RW, Gevenosky L, Samar H, Williams R, Yamrozik J, Lombardi R, Shah M, Mangini F, Bonnet C, Doyle M.  Safety or Efficacy; Or Could We Have Both? A Focused Study of Prohibited Devices in the MRI Environment. Circulation 2019:140:A11499.
  17. Doyle M, Poornima I, Kassar K, Popeck M, Aldweib N, Rayarao G, Raina A, Thosani A, Biederman RW.  Prognosis in Patients with Cardiac Sarcoid Detected by PET or CMR. Circulation 2019:140:A11498.
  18. Mimi (Xinyi) Li, Mark Doyle, Geetha Rayarao, Robert W. Biederman Optimization of Magnetic Field Strength for Cardiac Magnetic Resonance: A Case for .75T Low Field Imaging. JCMR 2019.
  19. Badlani, J, Hughes-Doichev, R. Hanging on by a Thread—A rare case of right atrial band endocarditis. ASE abstract poster. Portland, OR 6/2019.
  20. Taleb I, Wever-Pinzon O, Yin M, Kfoury A, Caine W, Stehlik J, Catino A, Wever-Pinzon J, Bonios M, McKellar S, Alharethi R, Koliopoulou A, Fang J, Selzman C, Shah P, Singh R, Psotka M, Zhu W, Slaughter M, Birks E, Koenig S, Kanwar M, Kyvernitakis A, Hoffman K, Guglin M, Kotter J, Campbell K, Drakos S. Predicting Cardiac Structural and Functional Improvement Induced by Mechanical Unloading in Chronic Heart Failure: a Derivation-Validation Multicenter Study. The International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation 40th Annual Meeting. April 22-25, 2020. Montreal, Canada.
  21. Begg A, Dahiya G, Kyvernitakis A, Doyle M, Lasorda DM, Bailey SH, Raina A, Biederman RWW, Benza RL. Is Pre-existing Pulmonary Hypertension a Predictor of Left Ventricle Systolic Dysfunction and Functional Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement? The Annual American College of Cardiology Meeting. March 28-30, 2020. Chicago, IL.
  22. Dahiya G, Begg A, Kyvernitakis A, Doyle M, Raina A, Biederman RWW, Bailey SH, Lasorda DM, Benza RL. Impact of Routine Invasive Hemodynamic Assessment Among Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis on Predicting Cardiac Events After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. The Annual American College of Cardiology Meeting. March 28-30, 2020. Chicago, IL.
  23. Kyvernitakis A, Elsayed M, Dahiya G, Begg A, Raina A, Biederman RWW, Doyle M, Bailey SH, Lasorda DM, Benza RL. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis is Associated With Improved Right Ventricular Systolic Function and Pulmonary Artery Pressures. The Annual American College of Cardiology Meeting. March 28-30, 2020. Chicago, IL.
  24. Tobaa A, Kyvernitakis A, Poornima IG. The Heart of the Matter: Overcoming Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity With a Multidisciplinary Cardiooncology Team. The Annual American College of Cardiology Meeting. March 28-30, 2020. Chicago, IL.
  25. Vashistha K, Kyvernitakis A, Hughes-Doichev R, Badlani J, Lygouris G. Acute, Severe Aortic Regurgitation From Pannus Obstruction – A Short Window of Opportunity. The Annual American College of Cardiology Meeting. March 28-30, 2020. Chicago, IL.
  26. Begg A, Dahiya G, Kyvernitakis A, Doyle M, Lasorda DM, Bailey SH, Raina A, Biederman RWW, Benza RL. Is Pre-existing Pulmonary Hypertension a Predictor of Left Ventricle Systolic Dysfunction and Functional Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement? The American Heart Association's 28th Annual Fellows Research Day. January, 17, 2020. Pittsburgh, PA.
  27. Dahiya G, Begg A, Kyvernitakis A, Doyle M, Raina A, Biederman RWW, Bailey SH, Lasorda DM, Benza RL. Impact of Routine Invasive Hemodynamic Assessment Among Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis on Predicting Cardiac Events After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. The American Heart Association's 28th Annual Fellows Research Day. January, 17, 2020. Pittsburgh, PA.
  28. Kyvernitakis A, Elsayed M, Dahiya G, Begg A, Raina A, Biederman RWW, Doyle M, Bailey SH, Lasorda DM, Benza RL. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis is Associated With Improved Right Ventricular Systolic Function and Pulmonary Artery Pressures. The American Heart Association's 28th Annual Fellows Research Day. January, 17, 2020. Pittsburgh, PA.
  29. Pappan N, Kyvernitakis A, Kashyap K, Marshall E, Alpert CM, Biederman RWW, Hughes-Doichev R. Seeing beyond what is visible to the eye: Enhancing medical decision making by diagnosing a left ventricular pseudoaneurysm with IV contrast ultrasound enhancement. Allegheny Health Network Internal Medicine Research Retreat. May 27, 2020, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.
  30. Tobaa A, Kyvernitakis A, Poornima IG. The Heart of the Matter: Overcoming Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity With a Multidisciplinary Cardiooncology Team. Allegheny Health Network Internal Medicine Research Retreat. May 27, 2020, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.
  31. Kyvernitakis A, Elsayed M, Dahiya G, Begg A, Raina A, Biederman RWW, Doyle M, Bailey SH, Lasorda DM, Benza RL. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis is Associated With Improved Right Ventricular Systolic Function and Pulmonary Artery Pressures. Allegheny Health Network Internal Medicine Research Retreat. May 27, 2020, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA
  32. To Close or Not to Close: Patent Foramen Ovale in a Patient Undergoing TIPS Procedure. M Veer, K Kassar, F Katchi, D Lasorda, V Farah -ACC, 2020
  33. Assessment of Severity of AS is Challenging in the setting of LVOT Obstruction due to High Velocity in LVOT. M Veer, M Elsayed, R Biederman, V Nguyen… - ACC 2020
  34. Asymptomatic 62 year old with Unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Beating the Odds R. Pearce, J. Badlani, R. Biederman, V. Nguyen, C. Alpert. ACC, 2020
  35. Atrial Fibrillation, Heart Failure and Bleeding Risk in Patients on Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy-Results From a Tertiary Care Center. M Veer, A Chaturvedi, M Naik, A Thosani, IG Poornima AHA, 2019
  36. Systolic Blood Pressure Post TAVR Predicts Mortality. M Veer, A Chaturvedi, R Biederman, S Bailey, R Khalil, C Slemenda, ACC 2019
  37. Ibrutinib and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia: A potential association? M Veer, A Chaturvedi, J Badlani, I Poornima, A Thosani ACC 2019
  38. Reddy S, Moore T, Biederman R.  Ventricular Tachycardia in a Young Athlete:  A Late Manifestation of Kawasaki Disease.  JACC 2020, 75 (11 Supplement 1) 2649.
  39. Biederman RWW, Gevenosky L, Williams R, Lombardi R, Bonnet C, Shah M, Doyle M. MRI Effects on Pacemaker/ICD Stability: Should We Be Concerned Any Longer?  An In Vivo Study.  JACC 2020, 75(11 Supplement 1) 1675.
  40. Pearce R, Badlani J, Biederman R, Nguyen V, Alpert CM.  Asymptomatic 62 year old with Unrepaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Beating the Odds.  JACC 2020, 75(11 Supplement 1) 3075.
  41. Joseph N, Fu S, Ivanova V, Biederman R, Nguyen N.  Myocardial Infarction with Nonobstructive Coronary Arteries (Minoca) Manifesting as Atypical Takotsubo Syndrome.  JACC 2020, 75(11 Supplement 1) 3409.
  42. Veer M, Elsayed M, Biederman R, Nguyen V, Tabbara S, Farah V.  Assessment of Severity of Aortic Stenosis (AS) is Challenging in the Setting of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction Due to the High Velocity in LVOT.  JACC 2020, 75(11 Supplement 1) 3424.
  43. Biederman RWW, Gevenosky L, Samar H, Williams R, Lombardi R, Shah M, Farah V, Mangini F, Bonnet C, Doyle M.  1000 Consecutive Patients Evaluated for Safety and Efficacy:  A Focused Study of Prohibited Devices in the MRI Environment.  JACC 2020, 75(11 Supplement 1) 3585.
  44. Badlani JT, Pearce R, Poornima I, Biederman R, Thosani A.  Cardiac Sarcoidosis Causing Ventricular Tachycardia After Myocardial Infarction:  A Shocking Diagnosis.  JACC 2020, 75(11 Supplement 1) 2665.
  45. Dahiya G, Begg A, Kyvernitakis A, Doyle M, Lasorda D, Bailey S, Raina A, Biederman R, Benza R.  Impact of Pulmonary Hemodynamics on Cardiac Events After Transcatheter Aortic Valve.  JACC 2020, 75(11 Supplement 1) 2093.
  46. Begg AS, Dahiya G, Kyvernitakis A, Doyle M, Lasorda D, Bailey S, Raina A, Biederman R, Benza R.  Is Pre-existing Pulmonary Hypertension A Predictor of Left Ventricular Systolic Function and Functional Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement?  JACC 2020, 75(11 Supplement 1) 2189.
  47. Kyvernitakis A, Elsayed M, Dahiya G, Begg A, Biederman R, Raina A, Doyle M, Bailey S, Lasorda D, Benza R.  Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Patients with Severe Aortic Stenosis is Associated with Improved Right Ventricular Systolic Function and Pulmonary Artery Pressures.  JACC 2020, 75(11 Supplement 1) 1471.
  48. Khidr S, Doyle M, Rayarao G, Belden W, Biederman, R.  A Model Incorporating Left Ventricular Impedance May Be Explanatory of Late Pulmonary Vein Isolation Failure.  JCMR. Feb 2020. 750227.
  49. Gopalakrishnan P, Gevenosky L, Williams R, Lombardi R, Doyle M, Bonnet C, Shah M, Biederman R.  Beyond Pacemakers and ICDs; Is There Any Further Limitation to Imaging Devices in the MRI Field?  JCMR. Feb 2020. 751404.
  50. Gevenosky L, Doyle M, Rayarao G, Williams R, Lombardi R, Shah M, Farah V, Biederman RW.  CMR Effects on Pacemaker/ICD Within the Magnetic Field; an Intraobserver Variability Study.  JCMR. Feb 2020. 745499.
  51. Nguyen V, Doyle M, Rayarao G, Biederman RW.  A Rapid Measure of RV Impedence Can Predict RVEF. JCMR. Feb 2020. 745502.
  52. Vashistha K, Kyvernitakis A, Hughes-Doichev R, Badlani J, Lygouris G. Acute severe aortic regurgitation from pannus obstruction—a short window of opportunity. ACC abstract poster, accepted, Chicago, IL 3/2020

Active clinical trials

  • DETERMINE A / NCT03877224: International, Multicenter, Parallel-group, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase III Study Evaluating the effect of Dapagliflozin on Exercise Capacity in HFpEF (PI: Kanwar, Sponsor: AstraZeneca, 2019-2020)
  • DETERMINE B / NCT03877237: International, Multicenter, Parallel-group, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Phase III Study Evaluating the effect of Dapagliflozin on Exercise Capacity in HFrEF (PI: Kanwar, Sponsor: AstraZeneca, 2019-2020)
  • PRESERVED-HF / NCT03030235: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effects of Dapagliflozin on HF disease-specific biomarkers (PI: Kanwar, Sponsor: St Luke, 2017-2021)
  • COMPLEXA Cardiac MRI Core Lab. Coordinated PAH Trial with Medpace. (PI: Robert W. W. Biederman, MD, Mark Doyle PhD 2019-2021)
  • COMPLEXA II  Cardiac MRI Core Lab. Coordinated PAH Trial with Medpace. (PI: Robert W. W. Biederman, MD, Mark Doyle PhD 2020-2022)
  • COVANCE  Cardiac MRI Core Lab Cardiac MRI Core Lab. Coordinated PAH Trial with Bruce Freeman, MD, U Penn Covance, Medpace  (PI: Robert W. W. Biederman, MD, Mark Doyle PhD 2018-2020)
  • GUIDE-HF / NCT03387813: Demonstrate the effectiveness of the CardioMEMS™ HF System in an expanded HF patient population (PI: Lander, Sponsor: Abbott, 2018-2023)
  • OPTIMIZER / NCT01381172: CCM meaningfully improves health outcomes in patients implanted with the OPTIMIZER Smart (PI: Shaw/Lander, Sponsor: Impulse, 2019 - 2021)
  • ACT-HF / NCT04363697: International, multicenter, parallel-group, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, evaluating the effect of in-hospital initiation of dapagliflozin versus placebo on the clinical outcome (PI: Kanwar, Sponsor: TIMI group, 2020 - 2022)
  • ATTRIBUTE / NCT03860935: A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of AG10 in Subjects with Symptomatic Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy (PI: Alpert, Sponsor: Eidos Therapeutics, 2019-2023)
  • ARIES HM3 / NCT04069156: Prospective, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical investigation of advanced heart failure patients treated with the HM3 with vitamin K antagonist with aspirin versus vitamin K antagonist with placebo (PI: Kanwar, Sponsor: Abbott, 2020 - 2022)
  • ALL-IN / NCT03644667: Addition of tocilizumab to conventional immunosuppression in the early post-transplant period will diminish proinflammatory, adaptive and innate immune responses while enhancing regulatory mechanisms (PI: Murali, Sponsor: NIH, 2020 - )
  • ADVANCE /  NCT03626688: A Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of Ralinepag to Improve Treatment Outcomes in PAH Patients (PI: Raina, Sponsor: United Therapeutics, 2018-2021)
  • PhaseBio / NCT03556020A: Randomized, Double-Blind, Parallel Group, Phase 2 Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of VIP Analogue, PB1046, in PAH (PI: Raina, Sponsor: Phase Bio; 2018-2021)
  • PERFECT / NCT03794583 : A Phase 3, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Double-blind, Adaptive Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Inhaled Treprostinil in Patients with PH from COPD (PI: Raina, Sponsor: United Therapeutics)
  • UNISUS / NCT04273945: A Phase 3, Prospective, Multicenter, Double-blind, Double-dummy, Randomized, Active-controlled, Parallel-group, Group-sequential, Adaptive, Event-driven Study to Compare Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Macitentan 75 mg Versus Macitentan 10 mg in Patients with PAH (PI: Riana, Sponsor: Actelion, 2020-2023)
  • SELECT / NCT03689244: Selexipag in inoperable or persistent/recurrent Chronic Thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (PI: Kanwar, Sponsor: Actelion, 2020-2023)
  • NCSI / NCT03677180: National Cardiogenic Shock Initiative (Site PI: David Lasorda, 2019-2020)
  • ECLIPSE / NCT03108456: Evaluation of Treatment Strategies for Severe Calcific Coronary Arteries: Orbital Atherectomy vs. Conventional Angioplasty Technique Prior to Implantation of Drug-Eluting Stents (Site PI: David Lasorda, Ramzi Khalil, Mithun Chakravarthy, Saad Tabbara 2019-2020)
  • SHIELD II / NCT02468778: Supporting Patients Undergoing High-Risk PCI Using a High-Flow Percutaneous Left Ventricular Support Device (Site PI: David Lasorda, 2-19-2020)
  • TRILUMINATE / NCT03227757: Transcatheter Clip Repair System in Patients With Moderate or Greater TR (Site PI: David Lasorda, 2019-2020)
  • REPRISE IV / NCT03618095: LOTUS Edge Valve System in Intermediate Surgical Risk Subjects (Stephen Bailey (CTS), Co-Pi : Ramzi Khalil,David Lasorda (IC), 2019-2020)
  • DTU-STEMI / NCT03947619: Primary Unloading and Delayed Reperfusion in ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (Site PI: David Lasorda, Ramzi Khalil, Mithun Chakravarthy, Saad Tabbara 2019-2020)
  • SUMMIT / NCT03433274: Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Safety and Effectiveness of Using the Tendyne Mitral Valve System for the Treatment of Symptomatic Mitral Regurgitation (Site PI: Walter McGregor ( CTS ), David Lasorda, 2019-2020)
  • EARLY TAVR / NCT03042104: Evaluation of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Compared to Surveillance for Patients With Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis (Site PI: Stephen Bailey(CTS)-Co-PI Scott Halbreiner(CTS)Co-PI: David Lasorda(IC),Ramzi Khalil(IC), Saad Tabbara(IC) , 2019-2020)
  • Optimize PRO Study / NCT04091048: valve performance and procedural outcomes associated with an "optimized" TAVR care pathway and using the Evolut™ PRO device. (Site PI: Ramzi Khalil (IC), Stephen Bailey(CTS)- 2019-2020)
  • CLASP / NCT03170349: The CLASP Study Edwards PASCAL Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair System Study (Site PI: Walter McGregor ( CTS ), David Lasorda, 2019-2020)
  • The PARTNER 3 - AVIV Trial (P3-AVIV) / NCT03003299: To assess the safety and effectiveness of the SAPIEN 3 (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, California) transcatheter heart valve in patients with a failing aortic bioprosthetic valve. (Site PI: Stephen Bailey(CTS)-Co-PI Scott Halbreiner(CTS) Co-PI: David Lasorda(IC),Ramzi Khalil(IC), Saad Tabbara(IC) , 2019-2020)
  • XIENCE / NCT03218787: A Safety Evaluation of 3-month DAPT After XIENCE Implantation for HBR Patients  (Site PI: PI: David Lasorda(IC),Ramzi Khalil(IC), Saad Tabbara(IC) Mithun Chakravarthy (IC), 2019-2020)
  • PFO PAS / NCT03309332: AMPLATZER PFO Occluder Post Approval Study (Site  PI: David Lasorda(IC)), 2019-2020)

National registries

  • Cardiogenic Shock Work Group Registry: National multicenter prospective registry that uses real-world experiences of patients with CS (PI: Kanwar)
  • SHORE / NCT03695601: Observational registry to assess the clinical utility of surveillance using HeartCare in association with clinical care of heart transplant recipients (PI: Kanwar)
  • INTERMACS: North American registry for the clinical outcomes of patients who receive an FDA-approved mechanical circulatory support device to treat advanced HF (PI: Bailey, Kanwar)
  • SRTR: Scientific Registry for Transplant Recipients 

Extramural grants and institutional collaborations

Riociguat in patients with symptomatic chronic thromboembolic disease (CTED) Multicenter trial to compare clinical outcomes in patients with symptomatic CTED treated with medical therapy versus placebo
Sponsor: Pulmonary Hypertension Accelerated Bayer award
Role: Project PI (Kanwar)
Project period: 2020- 2022 

Assessing markers of development of right ventricular failure after LVAD implantation Evaluate variability in baseline levels of RV focused biomarkers to determine if the levels of biomarkers independently contribute to prediction of right heart failure post LVAD implant
Sponsor: Abbott
Role: PI (Kanwar)
Project period: 2020- 2022

Pulmonary Hypertension Outcomes Risk Assessment (PHORA) This project will develop a versatile decision-support system using machine learning for PAH that integrates comprehensive data sets, data mining and management, user input and complex decision-making.
Sponsor: NIH (R01 HL134674)
Role: Co-I (Kanwar)
Project period: 2016-2020 , extension submitted for 2020-2025

Cardiac Outcomes Risk Assessment (CORA) This project aims to introduce a clinical decision support system using Bayesian Networks for patients undergoing LVAD.
Sponsor: NIH (R01 HL122639)
Role: PI: Murali, Co-I Kanwar
Project period: 2014-2019 (NCS for 2020) 

Multicenter study aimed to analyze changes in tissues and serum that are the result of heart failure and LVAD support as well as identify cellular and molecular changes that impact clinical myocardial recovery post LVAD implant
Sponsor: University of Utah
Role: Site PI (Kanwar)
Project period: 2018- 2021

2 center study to determine if soluble protein biomarkers measured before LVAD predict risk of GIB or stroke and after LVAD implant to improve risk discrimination for GIB or stroke. Collaboration with INOVA
Sponsor: Roche
Site PI: Kanwar Project period: 2020- 2021