# Implementation science to improve cardiovascular outcomes among liver transplant recipients

> **NIH NIH K23** · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $189,251

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This career development award will provide Dr. Lisa VanWagner the opportunity to develop as an independent
researcher translating research into clinical practice using qualitative research methods and implementation
science principles to improve cardiovascular outcomes among patients with liver disease. Dr. VanWagner will
use this award to enhance her existing extensive skills in clinical epidemiology with new skills and knowledge
in the application of user-centered and learning collaborative approaches and implementation science
principles to optimize future uptake and adherence by multidisciplinary treatment teams of a liver transplant-
specific cardiovascular disease Guideline and Care Pathway. These skills will allow her to translate
epidemiologic findings into clinical practice in order to improve cardiovascular outcomes in patients with liver
disease. She will achieve these career goals through a career development plan that consists of formal
coursework, intensive mentorship, experiential training, and patient-oriented research. Her primary mentor is
Dr. Donald Lloyd-Jones, an expert in cardiovascular disease outcomes and prevention with multiple active NIH
grants and an outstanding record of mentoring. Her co-mentors include experts in healthcare quality and safety
(Dr. Jane Holl), and qualitative research methods (Dr. Elisa Gordon), both with outstanding track records in
training independent investigators. This will be accomplished at Northwestern University. Northwestern
provides Dr. VanWagner with 1) dedicated support from the Division of Gasteroenterology and Hepatology,
Department of Medicine; 2) her multidisciplinary team of mentors; 3) numerous courses and professional
interactions relevant to her career development, including the Northwestern University Clinical and
Translational Sciences Institute and the Institute for Public Health and Medicine; 4) research infrastructure that
includes an institutional electronic data collection program and biostatistical support; and 5) extensive clinical
infrastructure. The overall purpose of the research strategy is to create, implement, and test the feasibility of a
Cardiovascular Disease Quality Improvement in Liver Transplantation (CVD QUILT) Care Pathway that
includes a liver transplant-specific cardiovascular disease guideline, using a multidisciplinary treatment team
approach. The findings of this study will target reducing cardiovascular disease in a high-risk population:
patients with liver disease who have received life-saving organ transplants from scarce donated organs. The
study will be conducted at a single academic hospital. Specific Aim One will create liver transplant-specific
cardiovascular disease clinical practice guidelins. Specific Aim Two will use qualitative research methods to
assess and address barriers and facilitators to the implementation and adherence to the Guideline by design
and development of the CVD QUILT Care Pathway. Specific Aim Th...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9969461
- **Project number:** 5K23HL136891-04
- **Recipient organization:** NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Lisa B VanWagner
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $189,251
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9969461

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9969461, Implementation science to improve cardiovascular outcomes among liver transplant recipients (5K23HL136891-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9969461. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*