Research Focus

Our laboratory's overall goal is to (i) understand the mechanisms of heart failure in children and adults with congenital heart disease and (ii) to develop biomarkers as a plasma signature of myocardial events to better understand the mechanisms of heart failure, improve monitoring of disease progression, early detection of heart failure and risk-stratification.

We focus on tetralogy of Fallot and single ventricle heart disease. As the survival continues to improve, so also has the incidence of heart failure. However, the underlying cellular mechanisms of heart failure are poorly understood as a result of which no targeted therapy is available. Our work has identified defects in myocardial mitochondria and in the coronary microvasculature as potential causes of disease progression. We will develop these areas to serve as novel therapeutic targets. Since it is not possible to obtain heart muscle biopsies routinely on patients, we have taken a novel strategy of using Multi-Omics to better understand disease mechanisms and to follow patients over time comparing their Omics signature to themselves thereby personalizing their care. The goal is to create a targeted biomarker panel for clinical utility to be used in conjunction with imaging data to improve overall prediction of risk.

Targeting Mitochondrial Function in Heart Failure

The cardiac mitochondria are the power-houses of the cell and provide energy (ATP) to meet the physiologic demands of the heart. 

Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Heart Failure

Coronary microvascular dysfunction, including endothelial dysfunction due to chronic oxidant stress, has emerged as a major therapeutic target in adult heart failure in ischemic heart disease. 

Translational Biomarker Research

Landmark innovations in the management of complex congenital heart diseases (CHD) have transformed survival over the past 40 years.