Stories

Clinical Trials Offer Kaiser Members Cutting-Edge Care

By Jill Pope, Communications Lead

In 2026, a patient at Kaiser Permanente’s Sunnyside Medical Center in Clackamas, Oregon became the fifth person in the world to receive an experimental new type of heart valve. This groundbreaking procedure was made possible through a clinical trial conducted by a specialized team at CHR, in partnership with cardiologists at Sunnyside hospital.

The heart valve trial, sponsored by Edwards Lifesciences, is one of dozens of clinical trials conducted in the Kaiser Permanente Northwest health care system by CHR’s Clinical Research and Trials Unit. Clinical trials are studies that evaluate the safety and effectiveness of new drugs, devices, and blood tests. CHR’s clinical trials team works with physicians and CHR investigators to ensure patient safety, compliance with regulations and trial protocols, and proper data handling. When a clinical trial is available to join, patients talk with their care team and meet with a CHR staff member, learn about the study, and then decide whether they want to participate.

The clinical trials team at the Sunnyside campus is managed by research nurse Emily Schield, and includes Britt Ash, and A’Lissa Richards, both research nurses, and three study coordinators—Jennifer Cook, Gradie Dunlap, and Taylor Toro. The team primarily implements clinical trials sponsored by industry, partnering with KP physicians from the cardiology, interventional neurology, pulmonology, and infectious disease departments.

Another trial now underway is the Lilly MOVE Study, which could transform treatment of a cardiovascular risk factor called lipoprotein(a), or Lp(a). Most people have low Lp(a), but one in five people have a genetic condition that causes them to have elevated Lp(a). These people have two to three times the normal risk for problems like heart attack, stroke, and aortic valve stenosis because Lp(a) causes clotting, inflammation, and plaque buildup. The trial, enrolling participants worldwide, will test whether a medication called Muvalaplin is better than a placebo (a pill with no medicine) at preventing major cardiac events such as heart attack and stroke in patients with elevated Lp(a).

Team member Britt Ash says both patients and providers are excited about this study: “The participants are so engaged, they sometimes call us days prior to their appointment to confirm the visit. We receive multiple referrals each week, from various primary care and cardiology providers, some of whom are even outside of Kaiser.”

Dr. Abhimanyu Uberoi, MD, is a structural interventional cardiologist and the director of the structural heart program at Kaiser Permanente Northwest. He repairs heart valves, closes holes in hearts, removes blockages, and opens arteries. As principal investigator for the current heart valve trial, he performed the recent history-making valve procedure and works closely with CHR’s clinical trials team.

“I appreciate the energy, passion, and professionalism that CHR brings to every study,” he says. “The team approaches clinical research with remarkable attention to detail and a genuine commitment to advancing patient care. Their efficiency, organization, and dedication ensure that studies are conducted with the highest level of quality and compliance.”

Further, he says CHR’s stellar reputation for running clinical trials leads to future opportunities: “What makes me especially proud is that sponsors have repeatedly invited us to participate in subsequent trials after working with our program. As a result, our reputation within the research community continues to grow, and we are excited to build on that momentum with several new trials opening for enrollment in the coming months.”

Through clinical trials, Kaiser members can access the latest advances in cardiac care, which has contributed to Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center being recognized by U.S. News & World Report as Oregon’s #1 Hospital for Cardiology, Heart, and Vascular Surgery. Sunnyside is the only hospital in Oregon and Washington to have received the America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery Award for 10 years in a row from Healthgrades. In addition, Sunnyside received the Healthgrades Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award for 2026, placing it among the top 5% of hospitals in the U.S.

CHR teams have been conducting clinical trials in KPNW clinics and hospitals since 1972. Their skill and expertise allow KP providers to offer their patients treatments and procedures they may not find elsewhere. Says Dr. Uberoi, “Clinical trials allow us to do more than provide excellent cardiovascular care today. They allow us to help shape the future of cardiovascular care. By participating in leading research studies, we can offer eligible patients access to promising therapies, devices, and treatment strategies that may not otherwise be available in our region.”