Pediatric Cardiology Research

Research includes:

• Viral mechanisms of cardiac rejection in pediatric transplant patients
• Arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in children with dilated cardiomyopathy and predictors of poor outcome in pediatric patients with dilated cardiomyopathy
• Arginine vasopressin levels as a predictor of outcome in children with congestive heart failure
• Use of nesiritide in the pediatric heart failure population
• Evaluation of BNP levels in the pediatric population – utility in children with cardiomyopathy, status post cardiac transplantation, and congestive heart failure
• Treatment and outcome of heart failure in patients with muscular dystrophy
• Leukocyte suppression and outcomes in pediatric orthotopic cardiac transplantation
• Telethonin – the link between structural abnormalities and arrhythmias
• Incidence of thrombosis in restrictive cardiomyopathy
• Abdominal pain in pediatric heart transplant recipients – a sign of graft vasculopathy

Research includes:

• Patent ductus arteriosus characteristics – echocardiographic and angiographic predictors of suitability for interventional catheter closure
• Non-invasive, real-time cardiac output evaluation
• Long-term evaluation post stent placement in pulmonary arteries – impact on morbidity and mortality
• Long-term follow-up after coil occlusion of coronary fistula
• Balloon angioplasty of coarctation of aorta in 690-gram infant
• Effect of coil occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus on atrial septal defect size
• Long-term outcome of aortopulmonary collaterals in children with pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect
• Interventional catheterization for pulmonary vein stenosis
• Long-term outcome of balloon dilatation of aortic valve stenosis
• Incidence of headaches post interventional atrial septal defect closure

Research includes:

• Utility of echocardiography in the evaluation of pediatric chest pain
• Correlation of electrocardiogram abnormalities with echocardiographic findings in children
• Echo evaluation of isolated aortic valve regurgitation – impact on surgical timing and long-term outcome
• Perioperative assessment of myocardial performance in neonates and children after cardiac repair
• MRI changes in palliated patients with d-transposition of the great arteries
• Echocardiographic predictors of outcome in restrictive cardiomyopathy
• Growth of atrial septal defects during childhood
• Harmonic imaging in pediatric echocardiography
• 5th aortic arch – delineation by MRI
• Utility of intracardiac echo probe for transesophageal cardiac evaluation in low-weight neonates during cardiac surgery

Research includes:

• Biventricular pacing in d-transposition of the great arteries in patients after Mustard palliation
• Fetal arrhythmias – treatment strategies and outcome
• Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy – mechanism of tachycardia and impact on left ventricular function
• Pacemaker-associated cardiomyopathy
• Electrocardiogram criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy in African-American children
• Routine holters versus pacemaker checks for identification of abnormalities of pacemaker function
• Wolff-Parkinson-White and dilated cardiomyopathy
• Incidence of arrhythmias in patients post extracardiac versus lateral tunnel Fontan palliation
• Use of pacemakers/defibrillators in post cardiac transplant patients
• Electrocardiogram changes after atrial septal defect surgery

Research includes:

• Effects of peritoneal dialysis on serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in neonates post cardiopulmonary bypass
• BNP levels in neonates with single ventricles before and after Norwood and Glenn palliations
• NIRS in single ventricle patients
• Evaluation of BNP levels in the peri-operative pediatric population
• Use of fenoldopam in peri-operative pediatric patients with hypertension
• Peritoneal dialysis versus Lasix infusion in neonates
• Perioperative cerebral and lower body oxygen saturation in neonates undergoing congenital heart surgery
• Stress dose steroid rescue in critically ill neonates
• Hyperventilation and cerebral vascular effects in children after bi-directional cavopulmonary anastomosis
• Comparative study of perioperative course and outcome in patients undergoing Fontan versus Fontan revision surgery

Research includes:

• Effects of beta-blockade on aortic root growth in children with Marfan syndrome
• Cardiac and overall outcome in children with trisomy 18

Additional research includes:

• Use of caffeine citrate as prophylaxis for prostaglandin-induced apnea in neonates with ductal dependent congenital heart disease
• Utility of ACE-inhibition in d-transposition of the great arteries in patients post Mustard palliation
• Long-term outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease
• Outcomes in adult patients with history of Kawasaki disease
• Intimal constitution in aortopulmonary shunts
• Incidence of sudden cardiac death in patients with Kawasaki disease
• Worldwide experience with conjoined twins and septation
• Double aortic arch in d-transposition of the great arteries
• Regression of primary pulmonary hypertension
• Neo-aortic root dilatation after arterial switch operation in d-transposition of the great arteries

1. Facilities
2. Equipment
3. Biosketch Format
4. Non-fellowship biosketch sample
5. Budget Justification
6. Introduction to application….
7. Specific Aims
8. Research Strategy
9. Letter of Support
10. Resource Sharing Plan
11. Data Management and Sharing Plan
12. Human Subjects
13. Enrollment Table–Actual
14. Enrollment Table-Planned
15. PHS Assignment Request Form
16. Statement of Work template
17. K Award Mentor Certification Form
18. Internal Foreign Component Form