Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Case Western Reserve University received a $760,476 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded July 1, 2026, with completion scheduled for April 30, 2030. The grant funds development of a low-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) guided robotic catheter system designed to improve ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation outcomes. The integrated procedural platform combines three technological advances: superior tissue visualization through MRI for real-time assessment of myocardial scar and lesion formation, precise robotic catheter navigation enabling accurate positioning and stable contact, and a unified system integrating imaging, navigation, and ablation capabilities. This innovation addresses a significant clinical need, as approximately 37 percent of VT ablation patients currently require repeat procedures due to recurrence, particularly those with complex structural or non-ischemic heart disease.

The project aims to improve VT ablation success rates by overcoming current limitations in target identification, lesion visualization, and catheter control that characterize complex cases. With an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 VT catheter ablation procedures performed annually in the United States, and VT responsible for approximately 39 percent of sudden cardiac death cases, the development of this advanced ablation system represents a significant advancement in minimally invasive cardiology intervention. The research will be conducted at Case Western Reserve University's Cleveland, Ohio location in affiliation with University Hospitals of Cleveland.