Could your own bone marrow repair a failing heart?

NCT ID NCT02438306

Completed Disease control Sponsor: BioCardia, Inc. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a patient's own bone marrow cells, processed and delivered into the heart muscle, could help people with chronic heart failure. 125 participants were randomly assigned to receive either the cell therapy or a sham procedure. The main goal was to see if the treatment improved survival, reduced heart events, and increased walking distance after one year.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

autologous bone marrow cells

What this could lead to

If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with chronic heart failure, potentially improving survival and daily function.

What could go wrong

This is a completed Phase 3 trial with 125 participants, but results are not yet widely available. The treatment involves a heart procedure, which carries risks like infection or heart damage.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

systolic heart failure

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

HEART FAILURE, SYSTOLIC

Contacts and locations

Show contact details

Locations

Atlantic Health System

Morristown, New Jersey, 07960, United States
California Pacific Medical Center

San Francisco, California, 94115, United States
Cedars Sinai Medical Center

Los Angeles, California, 90048, United States
Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Madison, Wisconsin, 53792-0001, United States
Henry Ford Hospital

Detroit, Michigan, 48202, United States
Iowa Heart

Des Moines, Iowa, 50266, United States
John Hopkins University School of Medicine - Dept of Cardiology

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
London Health Sciences Center

London, Ontario, Canada
Mayo Clinic

Phoenix, Arizona, 85054, United States
Michigan Cardiovascular Institute

Saginaw, Michigan, 48601, United States
Michigan Heart - St.Joseph Mercy Health System (Trinity Health)

Ypsilanti, Michigan, 48197, United States
Morton Plant Mease Health Care

Clearwater, Florida, 33756, United States
New York University School of Medicine

New York, New York, 10010, United States
Oklahoma Heart

Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74104, United States
Ottawa Heart Institute

Ottawa, Ontario, KIY 4W7, Canada
St. Paul's Hospital

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Stanford Medical Center, Stanford Health Care

Palo Alto, California, 94305, United States
Stern Cardiovascular Foundation

Memphis, Tennessee, 38103, United States
Suburban Hospital

Bethesda, Maryland, 20814, United States
Unity Health Toronto

Toronto, Ontario, Canada
University of Colorado, Denver

Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
University of Florida - College of Medicine/ div of Cardiovascular Medicine

Gainesville, Florida, 32606, United States
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center

Richmond, Virginia, 23298, United States