Cardiac Amyloidosis Patient Database and Research

Cardiac amyloidosis is caused by abnormal protein deposits that stiffen the heart, leading to heart failure. Early diagnosis and better understanding are key to improving care. At UMass, our cardiology team is building a database of about 200 patients with cardiac amyloidosis using Epic EHR and Excel. This resource will track diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes over time, serving as the foundation for multiple research studies. Students will review charts in Epic, extract clinical data (demographics, imaging, treatments, outcomes), and enter it into the database. Interested students can also assist with the IRB process, gaining exposure to research ethics. Once data entry is complete, students will have the opportunity to participate in analysis, abstract submissions, and manuscript preparation, with potential presentations at conferences such as AMA and ACP. Year 1 focuses on data collection and entry; Year 2 and beyond will expand to analysis, publications, and conference presentations.