SARASOTA, Fla. (March 11, 2026) – Cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator is a common treatment that uses an implanted device to help weakened or failing hearts beat more efficiently. While this therapy helps some people with rhythm disorders, others may see little to no improvement.
In search of additional treatment options, Sarasota Memorial’s Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute has joined an international clinical trial, SYNCHRONICITY, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a new pacing approach for heart failure patients.
Sponsored by Boston Scientific and led locally by Sarasota Memorial cardiac electrophysiologist Antonio Moretta, MD, the study is designed to compare two different pacing approaches – the current standard method of implanting a pacing lead in a vein on the surface of the left lower chamber of the heart (left ventricle) to deliver heart failure therapy (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy, also known as CRT) and an experimental approach called Left Bundle Branch Area Pacing or LBBAP. LBBAP involves implanting a lead in the left bundle branch area of the heart. While the lead is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be implanted in this area of the heart, it has not been approved for the treatment of heart failure.
The clinical trial will enroll up to 1,100 participants at as many as 100 sites globally. Eligible patients must be 18 years or older, diagnosed with heart failure, currently receiving drug therapy, and meets evidence-based guidelines for cardiac resynchronization therapy with a defibrillator.
For more information or to find out if you are eligible to participate in the local study, contact the research team at (941) 917-2225 or researchinstitute@smh.com.
For information about the national trial, click here. 
About the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute
Located on the flagship Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota campus, the Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute serves as a premier hub for medical research and clinical innovation. With dedicated space for research, clinical innovation and graduate medical education, the Kolschowsky Institute provides a collaborative learning environment for physicians, nurses, researchers and students studying new treatments and mastering the latest tools and techniques in patient care. Through state-of-the-art simulation labs, hands-on training programs, and a robust portfolio of clinical studies, Sarasota Memorial and the Kolschowsky Institute play a vital role in advancing medical knowledge, improving patient outcomes, and shaping the future of healthcare in the region. For more information, visit: smh.com/research.