Valve Science Center
Heart valve disease is a preventable public health crisis. Our world-class research and education center is leading the way to providing you with life-saving solutions.
Lifesaving heart valve disease research and education
The Valve Science Center at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation (MHIF) is internationally recognized as a premier leader in heart valve disease research, providing lifesaving solutions for patients and their loved ones. Known for expertise in the most advanced and minimally invasive options for treating heart valve disease, we have the technologies to repair and replace diseased heart valves: aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid.
Learn more about heart valve disease and the research we conduct on all types of valves, including a few current studies.
Late-Breaking Research
In March 2023, the MHIF research team stood on one of the largest stages in cardiology to present outcomes that show how research is advancing options for tricuspid regurgitation (leaky tricuspid valve). This is a condition that significantly impacts patient quality of life and where there are no current minimally invasive options outside of research.
Dr. Paul Sorajja, Roger L. and Lynn C. Headrick Family Chair for the MHIF Valve Science Center and national principal investigator for the TRILUMINATE Pivotal trial, presented the primary outcomes at the 2023 American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session opener for late-breaking clinical trials. Dr. Sorajja was part of the team that was the first to provide this technology to a patient as part of research in 2017, and was the lead enroller of all clinical sites across the United States, Canada and Europe that participated in the pivotal trial.
Dr. Sorajja is also lead author of the manuscript, “Transcatheter Repair for Patients with Tricuspid Regurgitation,” simultaneously published online in the New England Journal of Medicine.
The data from this study will be part of what the manufacturer (Abbott) uses to seek regulatory approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The impact of this research was also featured in a story in the New York Times, “New Treatment Could Help Fix the Heart’s ‘Forgotten Valve’”.
For the first time, patients with damaged tricuspid valves in their hearts might have a safe treatment that actually helps.
About Valve Science Center
The MHIF Valve Science Center is a multidisciplinary team of world-renowned key opinion leaders and physicians across multiple specialties, including interventional cardiologists, advanced imaging specialists, specialty nurses, research scholars, and cardiac surgeons.
This diversity of thought means patients receive the latest in care and treatment with some options only available through cutting-edge research.
Timely Innovation
Through our first-in-human research, we address concerns early and allow people to live life to the fullest.
Sharing Our Research
Part of our mission is sharing our discoveries with other cardiologists in peer-reviewed articles and at conferences.
A History of Firsts
The MHIF Valve Science Center team has led the way in first-in-the-world applications of the latest minimally invasive technologies and procedures. The integrated team consists of world-renowned physicians who provide best-in-class research care for patients with heart valve disease.
- First-in-human therapy of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with MitraClip
- First transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) in the US (7th in the world)
- First-in-human therapy of severe mitral annular calcification with dedicated mitral prothesis
- First live demonstration of surgical explanation of TAVR prothesis
- First-in-human experience with MitraClip removal and transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR)
- First-in-human implant of TriClip tricuspid valve repair for severe tricuspid regurgitation
- First live demonstration of transcatheter tricuspid valve repair with TriClip system
- First-in-human implantation of tricuspid valve replacement technology
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Meet Our Team
Dr. Sorajja has recruited a multi-disciplinary team of leading specialists to help bring these lifesaving solutions to address the harsh realities of how valve disease costs lives. This team of experts with deep expertise across imaging, surgical and non-surgical approaches collaborate to offer the best options for patients through research and new technologies.
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