Oklahoma Heart Institute Expands Access to Advanced Cardiovascular Trials and Innovative Technologies Across the Region
Oklahoma Heart Institute (OHI), part of Hillcrest HealthCare System and Ardent Health, is strengthening its position as a regional center for advanced cardiovascular care by participating in several leading national clinical trials and introducing emerging technologies to patients across Oklahoma and neighboring communities.
The institute is currently the only site in Oklahoma and the surrounding region participating in several major national cardiovascular studies. OHI has also reached a significant milestone in the development of minimally invasive cardiovascular care by becoming the first site in the United States to use the next-generation Supira percutaneous left ventricular assist device (pVAD) as part of the SUPPORT II clinical trial.
The institute’s growing involvement in cardiovascular research reflects an effort to bring advanced therapies and clinical research opportunities closer to patients who might otherwise need to travel to major academic medical centers.
For people living with complex heart conditions, access to clinical trials can provide opportunities to receive investigational therapies while also contributing to research that may shape future standards of care.
Expanding Access to Emerging Cardiovascular Treatments
Clinical trials play a critical role in evaluating new cardiovascular technologies before they become broadly available.
For many patients with complex heart disease, the latest treatments may initially be available only at a limited number of specialized centers. By participating in national studies, OHI is helping expand access to investigational technologies for patients in Oklahoma and the surrounding region.
One of the institute’s most recent milestones involves the Supira pVAD, a minimally invasive heart pump being studied through the SUPPORT II clinical trial.
The device is designed to provide temporary support to the left ventricle, the heart chamber responsible for pumping oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.
The technology is intended to support patients undergoing high-risk coronary interventions, including complex stenting procedures.
Its next-generation design and smaller profile are intended to make it possible to provide mechanical circulatory support to a broader group of patients who may previously have had limited treatment options.
The use of the Supira pVAD at OHI represents an important step in the clinical evaluation of the technology and highlights the institute’s role in bringing emerging cardiovascular devices to patients in the region.
The Supira System remains an investigational device and is not approved for sale in the United States.
SUPPORT II Trial Evaluates New Approach to Cardiovascular Support
The SUPPORT II clinical trial is one of several national cardiovascular studies in which Oklahoma Heart Institute is participating.
The study is evaluating the use of the Supira pVAD in patients requiring advanced cardiovascular support.
High-risk coronary interventions can present significant challenges for physicians, particularly when patients have complex coronary artery disease or limited cardiac function.
Temporary mechanical support can help maintain circulation during certain procedures, potentially allowing physicians to perform interventions that might otherwise carry considerable risk.
The development of smaller and minimally invasive support devices is part of a broader trend toward reducing the physical burden associated with cardiovascular procedures.
Instead of requiring traditional surgical approaches for mechanical support, newer technologies are being designed to provide assistance through catheter-based procedures.
OHI’s participation in the SUPPORT II trial gives physicians and patients in Oklahoma access to this emerging area of cardiovascular research.
OHI’s Role in Advanced Structural Heart Care
The institute’s involvement in national clinical trials builds on a long history of innovation in structural heart medicine.
Structural heart disease includes conditions affecting the heart’s valves and other structures. Advances in catheter-based therapies have transformed treatment options for many patients who may previously have required open-heart surgery.
Kamran Muhammad, MD, FACC, FSCAI, a structural heart specialist at Oklahoma Heart Institute, has played a significant role in developing the institute’s advanced cardiovascular program.
In 2012, Dr. Muhammad performed Tulsa’s first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedure.
TAVR has become an important minimally invasive alternative for treating certain patients with aortic valve disease. Instead of surgically opening the chest to replace the valve, physicians can deliver a replacement valve through a catheter.
OHI’s early adoption of TAVR helped establish the institute as a destination for advanced cardiovascular treatment in the region.
More than a decade later, the institute continues to build on that foundation by participating in new clinical trials and evaluating next-generation cardiovascular technologies.
Participation in the STAR Trial
OHI’s research activity also includes the STAR Trial, which is evaluating a next-generation transcatheter aortic valve replacement technology.
Earlier this year, Dr. Muhammad was invited to present OHI’s experience with the trial at a symposium held during New York Valves, a major international conference focused on structural heart and valve disease.
Presentations at leading cardiovascular conferences provide opportunities for physicians and researchers to share clinical experiences and discuss emerging technologies with peers from around the world.
OHI’s participation in the STAR Trial allows the institute to contribute clinical experience to the evaluation of new approaches to treating structural heart disease.
The Siegel TAVR System being studied in the STAR Trial is investigational and has not received FDA approval.
Its participation in the trial demonstrates OHI’s willingness to evaluate new technologies while they are still undergoing clinical investigation.
Leadership in the ENCIRCLE Trial
Oklahoma Heart Institute’s cardiovascular research program extends beyond current studies.
The institute was recognized as the leading global enroller in the landmark ENCIRCLE Trial, which contributed to the development and subsequent FDA approval of the Edwards SAPIEN M3 transcatheter mitral valve replacement system in 2025.
The SAPIEN M3 system represented an important development in minimally invasive structural heart treatment. It became the first device designed to replace the mitral valve without requiring conventional open-heart surgery.
Mitral valve disease can be difficult to treat, particularly among patients who may be considered high risk for traditional surgical procedures.
The development of transcatheter mitral valve replacement offers another potential treatment pathway for appropriately selected patients.
Following FDA approval, OHI was among the first centers in the United States to offer the technology. The institute is currently described as the only provider of the technology in Oklahoma and one of only a small number of centers in the surrounding region offering the therapy.
This provides patients with access to an advanced treatment option without necessarily requiring travel to a distant cardiovascular center.
Research Contributes to Published Clinical Evidence
The significance of OHI’s research program extends beyond providing access to new technologies.
Clinical trials generate evidence that can help physicians, regulators and healthcare organizations determine whether emerging therapies are safe and effective.
Results from the ENCIRCLE Trial were published in The Lancet in 2025, with Dr. Muhammad serving as a contributing author.
Publication in a major medical journal allows findings from clinical research to reach a broader medical community and contribute to discussions about future treatment approaches.
For OHI, participation in such research reflects the institute’s broader goal of combining clinical care with innovation and evidence generation.
Bringing Academic-Level Research Closer to Home
Historically, patients seeking participation in cutting-edge clinical trials have sometimes needed to travel to large academic hospitals or specialized research centers.
OHI’s growing research portfolio provides another option for patients living in Oklahoma and nearby areas.
The institute’s participation in national studies means patients can potentially access investigational cardiovascular technologies closer to home while receiving care from specialists with experience in complex cardiovascular procedures.
This can be particularly meaningful for patients who face challenges associated with long-distance travel, including transportation, accommodation, time away from work and separation from family support.
Bringing advanced research opportunities into regional healthcare systems can therefore help reduce some of these barriers.
Physician-Led Innovation at the Center of the Program
The growth of OHI’s cardiovascular research program also reflects Ardent Health’s emphasis on physician-led innovation.
By supporting physicians who participate in clinical research and invest in emerging technologies, health systems can create an environment where innovation becomes part of routine clinical practice.
F.J. Campbell, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Ardent Health, said the work taking place at Oklahoma Heart Institute demonstrates that leading-edge cardiovascular care does not have to be limited to academic medical centers.
The breadth of research underway at OHI, he noted, demonstrates the expertise of the institute’s team and Ardent Health’s investment in innovation, clinical excellence and expanded treatment options.
This approach positions clinical research as more than an academic activity. It becomes part of a broader strategy to improve access to advanced treatment.
The Importance of Minimally Invasive Cardiovascular Technologies
Many of the technologies being evaluated at OHI share a common objective: providing patients with advanced treatment through less invasive approaches.
Traditional open-heart surgery remains an important treatment option for many patients, but minimally invasive procedures can offer alternatives for appropriately selected individuals.
TAVR, transcatheter mitral valve replacement and percutaneous mechanical circulatory support are examples of technologies that use catheter-based approaches.
These procedures can potentially reduce the physical burden associated with traditional surgery, although their suitability depends on the patient’s condition, anatomy and overall health.
Clinical trials are essential for determining which patients are most likely to benefit from emerging technologies and how these devices should be incorporated into clinical practice.
Building a Regional Cardiovascular Destination
OHI’s involvement in multiple national trials contributes to its growing reputation as a regional destination for complex cardiovascular care.
The institute’s history with TAVR, participation in the ENCIRCLE Trial, involvement in the STAR Trial and first U.S. use of the Supira pVAD in the SUPPORT II trial demonstrate a continuing commitment to advanced cardiovascular medicine.
This research portfolio can also help attract physicians, researchers and patients seeking specialized cardiovascular expertise.
As cardiovascular technologies become more sophisticated, specialized centers with experience in clinical research may become increasingly important.
Expanding Options for Patients With Complex Heart Disease
Patients with complex cardiovascular conditions often have fewer treatment options than those with less complicated disease.
Emerging technologies may eventually expand those options, but access to these treatments depends on clinical research and specialized expertise.
OHI’s involvement in national trials allows the institute to participate in that process while providing patients with opportunities to receive investigational therapies when they qualify for specific studies.
Importantly, investigational treatments are not guaranteed to work, and clinical trials involve defined eligibility requirements and potential risks. Patients considering participation should discuss the potential benefits and risks with their healthcare team.
Looking Toward the Future of Cardiovascular Care
Oklahoma Heart Institute’s expanding research activity reflects the rapid pace of innovation in cardiovascular medicine.
New catheter-based procedures, mechanical circulatory support systems and structural heart technologies are changing the way physicians approach complex heart conditions.
For OHI, participation in national clinical trials provides a way to contribute to this evolution while bringing research opportunities closer to patients across Oklahoma and surrounding communities.
The institute’s leadership in cardiovascular research is supported by a combination of specialized physicians, clinical infrastructure, technology investments and participation in national studies.
As additional cardiovascular devices and therapies enter clinical development, OHI’s established research program could allow it to continue participating in the evaluation of future treatment options.
The institute’s progress also highlights the changing role of regional healthcare organizations. Advanced research and innovative cardiovascular treatment are no longer necessarily limited to the country’s largest academic institutions.
Through clinical trials and physician-led innovation, specialized regional centers can contribute to national research while providing patients with access to emerging therapies closer to home.
Ultimately, Oklahoma Heart Institute’s involvement in the SUPPORT II, STAR and ENCIRCLE programs demonstrates how clinical research can connect innovation with patient care. By evaluating new technologies, contributing to clinical evidence and expanding access to advanced procedures, OHI is helping shape the future of cardiovascular treatment while strengthening access to specialized heart care throughout the region.
The Supira System and the Siegel TAVR System referenced in the clinical trials are investigational devices. The Supira System is not approved for sale in the United States, and the Siegel TAVR System has not received FDA approval.
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