The University of Louisville is now enrolling qualifying patients in a new nationwide Phase III clinical trial to study whether a patient's own stem cells could help lessen the debilitating effects of angina.

Roberto Bolli, M.D., FAHA, Chief of the U of L Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and director of the Institute for Molecular Cardiology, and Michael Flaherty, M.D., Ph.D., director of Adult Cardiac Structural Disease, lead the trial at the University of Louisville, which is the only site in Kentucky among approximately 50 trial sites in North America participating in the research.

The trial is not being conducted at any site in Indiana.

Eligible study participants are male or female patients, 21 to 80 years of age, who have chronic, refractory angina that has not responded to conventional therapies or surgical interventions.

There are some exclusion criteria, such as a cardiac-related hospitalization in the past 60 days, a coronary artery bypass graft procedure within the past six months, and others.

Full criteria for participation can be found in the trial protocol synopsis listed at http://www.ClinicalTrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01508910.

Participants also can call Tina Collins, clinical research coordinator, at 502-587-4106 for information and to make arrangements to be screened for possible participation.