Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) awarded $775,114 to the Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital on June 12, 2026, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837). This Project Grant supports preclinical evaluation of a tissue-engineered vascular graft (TEVG) designed for use in congenital heart surgery. The research aims to advance treatment outcomes for children with complex cardiac anomalies by developing autologous tissue-based solutions that perform superior to current prosthetic biomaterials. The TEVG is constructed by seeding autologous cells onto biodegradable tubular scaffolds; upon implantation, the scaffold degrades while vascular neotissue forms, creating an autologous neovessel capable of growth and function comparable to native blood vessels. This approach addresses critical limitations of conventional prosthetic grafts, including thromboembolic risks, somatic overgrowth, and poor durability from dystrophic calcification.

The award, with an ultimate completion date of February 28, 2030, represents a regenerative medicine approach to overcome the scarcity of autologous tissue relative to congenital heart defect size. The funded research builds on previous clinical translation that has already demonstrated improved performance of the TEVG compared to the current clinical standard polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) vascular graft. This preclinical evaluation work supports broader implementation and adoption of this promising technology in pediatric cardiovascular surgery.