Published: March 31, 2026
Reviewed by Bassel Alkhalil, M.D., Norton Heart & Vascular Institute
Norton Heart & Vascular Institute has been selected as one of only two sites in Kentucky to participate in TEAM-HF, a pioneering clinical trial that could fundamentally change how advanced heart failure is treated.
The study, sponsored by Abbott and led locally by principal investigator Bassel Alkhalil, M.D., of Norton Heart & Vascular Institute, will evaluate whether implanting a left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) earlier in the disease progression improves outcomes compared with medical management alone. Norton Heart & Vascular Institute is one of just 75 global sites participating in the trial, which aims to enroll 500 patients worldwide.
TEAM-HF leverages the technology of CardioMEMS, an implantable pulmonary artery pressure monitoring system that can detect deteriorating heart function three to four days before patients experience symptoms. The trial will randomize patients who already have Abbott CardioMEMS devices implanted to receive either earlier LVAD implantation or continued medical management.
“This trial has the possibility to create change in practice,” Dr. Alkhalil said. “It’s really rewarding to see a patient who is declining and have the ability to treat and make a difference in their survival and quality of life. This is an innovative way to provide care.”
Current criteria typically limit LVAD consideration to Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support criteria Levels 1 to 4, with the worst three levels receiving inotropic management. TEAM-HF will expand eligibility to include patients at Levels 4 to 7, allowing earlier intervention for a broader patient population.
The study will seek to determine two key elements 1) whether pulmonary artery pressure monitoring with the CardioMEMS™ HF System can identify those who are at risk for worsening HF and 2)if starting treatment with the HeartMate 3™ LVAD (a heart pump) earlier can show improvement in life expectancy and quality of life.
“The goal is to find the optimal time for treatment that balances the risk of LVAD implantation with the benefits of intervention prior to further deterioration of the heart muscle and the patient’s quality of life” Dr. Alkhalil said.
Norton Heart & Vascular Institute’s selection for this trial reflects the Louisville team’s track record as an early adopter of heart failure innovations. It performed its first CardioMEMS implant in June 2019 and currently manages 91 active CardioMEMS patients.
The team also has been an early implanter of Abbott’s HeartMate 3 LVAD system, positioning Norton Heart & Vascular Institute at the forefront of mechanical circulatory support therapy.
With the trial officially approved and open as of Oct. 20, 2025, the Louisville team is aiming for substantial patient recruitment. The team completed 12 LVAD procedures in 2025 and has set a goal of 20 to 25 implants for 2026, balancing destination therapy and bridge-to-transplant patients.
According to the Norton Heart & Vascular Institute team, the study represents more than just procedural advancement.
“We sometimes think, as physicians, that we know it all — we have seen it all,” Dr. Alkhalil said. “It is humbling sometimes. But we are just a small tool in the life of the patient.”
The TEAM-HF trial has the potential to impact clinical best practices across the entire spectrum of heart failure care, offering hope that earlier intervention could extend and improve lives for patients with advanced disease.