UH3HL165017
Cooperative Agreement
Overview
Grant Description
1/2 Improving outcomes in vascular disease - aortic dissection (IMPROVE-AD) - this submission comprises two applications (clinical and statistical data coordinating centers). We propose to conduct a large (N=1,100), simple, pragmatic, superiority trial in the US - IMPROVE-AD – comparing a strategy of medical therapy (MT) plus upfront thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) to MT plus surveillance for deterioration in patients with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection (UTBAD).
Surveillance will include clinically indicated TEVAR and/or open repair performed for deterioration during index hospitalization or follow up. This is the first trial of this size designed to establish guidance on UTBAD management. The trial leadership is comprised of an experienced group of investigators in a clinical coordination center (CCC; Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, and University of Washington, Seattle, WA) a statistical and data coordination center (SDCC; Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC) and a diverse, executive and steering committee of experts in the field representing clinicians, trialists, and patient advocates.
Aortic dissection (AD) is the most common fatal event involving the aorta occurring in 5 to 30 cases per million of population resulting in 12,000 deaths in the US annually. Type B aortic dissections involve the entire descending aorta. Based on evidence from the 1960s, the main strategy for UTBAD is medical therapy with lifelong surveillance. This strategy has been shown to have poor long-term outcome in 25-50% of patients (aortic related events).
The emergence of TEVAR as a less invasive alternative to open repair, however, has resulted in debate over the use of upfront TEVAR to treat UTBAD. A pilot European trial (INSTEAD) compared the outcomes of upfront TEVAR to optimal medical therapy in 140 patients with UTBAD. Despite being significantly underpowered for all-cause mortality, the findings, along with observational data suggest that medical therapy plus upfront TEVAR may be associated with decreased all-cause and aortic-related mortality. We have also demonstrated from our completed surveys that there is equipoise among practitioners with respect to the most appropriate treatment strategy in UTBAD.
We propose a pragmatic trial with centralized, telephone follow-up, remote blood pressure monitoring, a clinically relevant hierarchical primary endpoint (mortality / aortic-related hospitalization), and multi-disciplinary teams of investigators and patient advocates. The trial duration is 84 months with 5-month start-up. Average follow-up is 4 year with a minimum of 2.5 years and maximum of 6 years for individuals enrolled early. IMPROVE-AD will have 88% power to detect a 25% relative reduction in the incidence of the primary endpoint for patients randomized to upfront MT plus TEVAR compared to MT plus surveillance for deterioration, assuming a 5 year cumulative incidence of 20% death and 20% aortic-related hospitalization in the MT plus surveillance for deterioration arm.
Surveillance will include clinically indicated TEVAR and/or open repair performed for deterioration during index hospitalization or follow up. This is the first trial of this size designed to establish guidance on UTBAD management. The trial leadership is comprised of an experienced group of investigators in a clinical coordination center (CCC; Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, and University of Washington, Seattle, WA) a statistical and data coordination center (SDCC; Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC) and a diverse, executive and steering committee of experts in the field representing clinicians, trialists, and patient advocates.
Aortic dissection (AD) is the most common fatal event involving the aorta occurring in 5 to 30 cases per million of population resulting in 12,000 deaths in the US annually. Type B aortic dissections involve the entire descending aorta. Based on evidence from the 1960s, the main strategy for UTBAD is medical therapy with lifelong surveillance. This strategy has been shown to have poor long-term outcome in 25-50% of patients (aortic related events).
The emergence of TEVAR as a less invasive alternative to open repair, however, has resulted in debate over the use of upfront TEVAR to treat UTBAD. A pilot European trial (INSTEAD) compared the outcomes of upfront TEVAR to optimal medical therapy in 140 patients with UTBAD. Despite being significantly underpowered for all-cause mortality, the findings, along with observational data suggest that medical therapy plus upfront TEVAR may be associated with decreased all-cause and aortic-related mortality. We have also demonstrated from our completed surveys that there is equipoise among practitioners with respect to the most appropriate treatment strategy in UTBAD.
We propose a pragmatic trial with centralized, telephone follow-up, remote blood pressure monitoring, a clinically relevant hierarchical primary endpoint (mortality / aortic-related hospitalization), and multi-disciplinary teams of investigators and patient advocates. The trial duration is 84 months with 5-month start-up. Average follow-up is 4 year with a minimum of 2.5 years and maximum of 6 years for individuals enrolled early. IMPROVE-AD will have 88% power to detect a 25% relative reduction in the incidence of the primary endpoint for patients randomized to upfront MT plus TEVAR compared to MT plus surveillance for deterioration, assuming a 5 year cumulative incidence of 20% death and 20% aortic-related hospitalization in the MT plus surveillance for deterioration arm.
Awardee
Funding Goals
TO FOSTER HEART AND VASCULAR RESEARCH IN THE BASIC, TRANSLATIONAL, CLINICAL AND POPULATION SCIENCES, AND TO FOSTER TRAINING TO BUILD TALENTED YOUNG INVESTIGATORS IN THESE AREAS, FUNDED THROUGH COMPETITIVE RESEARCH TRAINING GRANTS. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, USE SMALL BUSINESS TO MEET FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION IN INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP BY SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED PERSONS, AND INCREASE PRIVATE-SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION, FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THROUGH COOPERATIVE R&D BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESSES AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, AND INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL R&D.
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Durham,
North Carolina
277054699
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
Analysis Notes
Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 117% from $1,840,312 to $3,986,538.
Duke University was awarded
Pragmatic Trial: Medical Therapy vs. TEVAR Aortic Dissection Management
Cooperative Agreement UH3HL165017
worth $3,986,538
from National Heart Lung and Blood Institute in July 2023 with work to be completed primarily in Durham North Carolina United States.
The grant
has a duration of 7 years and
was awarded through assistance program 93.837 Cardiovascular Diseases Research.
The Cooperative Agreement was awarded through grant opportunity Clinical Coordinating Center for Multi-Site Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials (Collaborative UG3/UH3 Clinical Trial Required).
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/20/25
Period of Performance
7/21/23
Start Date
6/30/30
End Date
Funding Split
$4.0M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$4.0M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Transaction History
Modifications to UH3HL165017
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
UH3HL165017
SAI Number
UH3HL165017-3322765695
Award ID URI
SAI UNAVAILABLE
Awardee Classifications
Private Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
75NH00 NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Funding Office
75NH00 NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Awardee UEI
TP7EK8DZV6N5
Awardee CAGE
4B478
Performance District
NC-04
Senators
Thom Tillis
Ted Budd
Ted Budd
Modified: 8/20/25