Heart Institute Research and Clinical Trials

The Heart Institute of Greenville Hospital System is currently seeking patients to participate in a variety of clinical trials. GHS Institutional Review Committee (IRC) monitors the administration of each study at the hospital system and approves new trials before patients are enrolled.

Congestive Heart Failure

 Evaluating new treatments for Acute Heart Failure - ASCEND-HF Study

 Patients with severe forms of heart failure often require multiple hospitalizations for treatment. In fact, 30% to 60% are readmitted to the hospital within 3 - 6 months.  The need for research in this disease is great, acute heart failure results in nearly 1 million hospitalizations each year and the annual mortality rate is approximately 20%.  Patients admitted to the hospital due to acute heart failure may participate in this worldwide multicenter evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of nesiritide. Participating patients will be randomly assigned to receive either placebo or nesiritide along with standard of care for acute heart failure.  Nesiritide, a protein identical to a human B-type natriuretic peptide, has already been approved for use to reduce symptoms of heart failure.  If you are older than 18 years of age admitted for acute heart failure without evidence new heart injury, then you may qualify to participate.  The Principal Investigator is John E. Cebe MD.  For more information regarding the ASCEND-HF study please call or have your doctor call Study Coordinator Mihir Shah at  864-455-7727.

Adult Coronary Artery Disease

Evaluating a new drug for the prevention of cardiovascular events including death after a  heart attack - TRACER Study

Activated platelets play a central role in causing blood clots.  Clots within the arterial blood stream may cause life-threatening events.  Clots that block blood flow within the heart cause heart attacks.  Drugs that block platelet activation have been shown to significantly reduce major cardiovascular events like heart attack and strokes.  This GHS study is investigating a new antiplatelet drug for treatment and prevention of arterial blood clots in patients who are admitted to the hospital with a heart attack. The objective of this worldwide multicenter study of approximately 10,000 patients is to evaluate the potential benefit to reduce the future occurrences of major cardiovascular events in patients with a new antiplatelet drug in addition to standard of care therapies such as aspirin, plavix, or blood thinners. Patients with newly diagnosed heart attack may be candidates for this trial. The Principal Investigator for this study is Joseph M. Kmonicek MD.  For more information regarding the inpatient TRACER study, call Study Coordinator Gail Kattouf RN at 864-455-7727.

Evaluating a new drug for the prevention of heart attacks, strokes or limb-threatening clots - TRA-2P Study

Activated platelets play a central role in causing blood clots.  Clots within the arterial blood stream may cause life-threatening or limb-threatening events.  Clots that block blood flow within the heart cause heart attacks; within the brain cause strokes; and within a limb may cause the possible need for amputation. Drugs that block platelet activation have been shown to significantly reduce these major cardiovascular events. This GHS study is investigating a new antiplatelet drug for prevention of arterial blood clots in patients with prior heart attack, stroke or peripheral artery disease. The objective of this worldwide multicenter study of approximately 20,000 patients is to evaluate the potential benefit to reduce the future occurrences of these major cardiovascular events in patients with a new antiplatelet drug in addition to standard of care therapies such as aspirin, plavix or blood thinners. Patients with newly diagnosed cardiovascular disease, who have suffered a stroke or heart attack more than 2 weeks ago but less than a year ago, or suffer from leg pain (claudication), may be candidates for this trial. The Principal Investigator for this study is H. Graham Parker MD. For more information regarding the outpatient TRA-2P study, call Study Coordinator Gail Kattouf RN at 864-455-7727.

Evaluating a new drug with angioplasty or stents - CANGRELOR Study

More than 1.2 million percutaneous coronary interventions are performed annually in the United States.  This trial is evaluating an investigational intravenous (IV) anti-platelet agent called Cangrelor to be used in the cardiac catheterization lab.  The objective of this study is to determine how well Cangrelor treats or prevents arterial blood clots during angioplasty and/or stenting procedures.  This worldwide trial is open to men and non- pregnant women > 18 years of age who have unstable angina or have suffered a heart attack who will undergo a cardiac catheterization. The Principal Investigator for the CHAMPION PCI Study is Joseph H. Henderson MD.  [This study is now closed to enrollment at this site.]

Assessing Heart Risks due to Abdominal Fat

 In this 3-year international study, researchers are trying to understand the relationship between abdominal fat and the onset of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.  This study will include a random selection of people regardless of their health or body shape.  Research participants will be followed for 3 years after CT scan measurements of intra-abdominal fat.  Research participants who weigh less than 300 pounds are a male between 40 to 70 years old, or a female between 45 to 70 years old, and do not plan on having, or have had weight reduction surgery, may be candidates for this trial.  The Principal Investigator of the INSPIRE ME Study is Timothy R. Malinowski MD. [This study is now closed to enrollment at this site.]