# Cardiac MRI Increases Accuracy and Decreases Risk of Evaluation of Children with Cardiomyopathy and Cardiac Transplantation

> **NIH NIH R01** · CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE · 2021 · $772,393

## Abstract

Project Summary:
Children with cardiomyopathy from any cause (genetic, congenital heart disease or myocarditis)
require extensive evaluation, including endomyocardial biopsy (EMB), hemodynamic cardiac
catheterization, and angiography guided by x-ray, in preparation for, and as routine surveillance
following, cardiac transplantation. These invasive tests are the gold standard for determining
suitability for transplant and for detection of complications of heart transplant, but also carry risks
of invasive procedures and radiation exposure. New cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR)
imaging methods called parametric mapping images have emerged to both detect and quantify
fibrosis (T1 mapping) and edema (T2 mapping) within cardiac muscle. Preliminary data shows
promise in detection transplant rejection and extent of preclinical transplant failure noninvasively
in adult pre/post transplant patients. In addition, we have published our experience in using
CMR to guide radiation-free hemodynamic catheterization in children and guide radiation-
reduced cardiac interventions in the x-ray suite in children. We are well-positioned to
accomplish our overarching goal, which is to create a lower risk, radiation- reduced regimen for
cardiac assessment in pediatric pre/post transplant patients using CMR imaging that correlates
with and predicts invasive testing results (Aim #1), guides invasive EMB with better soft-tissue
visualization (Aim #2) and reduces radiation exposure by guiding hemodynamic catheterization
assessment (Aim #3). We believe that all patients with cardiomyopathy and heart failure
may benefit from completion of this project.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10084309
- **Project number:** 5R01HL144494-03
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE
- **Principal Investigator:** Laura J Olivieri
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $772,393
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-15 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10084309

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10084309, Cardiac MRI Increases Accuracy and Decreases Risk of Evaluation of Children with Cardiomyopathy and Cardiac Transplantation (5R01HL144494-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10084309. Licensed CC0.

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