Research

The Schneeweiss Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center has a robust research program with a particular focus on conducting clinical and translational research to improve the care of our most complex patients. Research programs at the center include:

Single Ventricle Survivorship

Dr. Lewis and Dr. Rosenbaum are leading a national, multicenter research program to better understand the risk factors associated with mortality in patients with Fontan physiology. In support of this program, we are also leading several single-center research studies to better delineate the impact of specific risk factors on the long-term trajectory of this complex patient population.

In addition, we recently completed a study delineating the impact of pacing on ventricular function in this population and are implementing a research protocol to discover novel biomarkers of hepatic congestion in patients post Fontan completion.

Translational Research

Dr. Lewis is currently conducting several grant-funded translational research projects. He was recently award a K23 to determine the impact of damaging genetic variation on ventricular function in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. He is also working with Dr. Barry Fine on a Department of Defense funded project focused on modeling heterotaxy syndromes with iPS cells. Dr. Lewis is also conducting research funded by the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and the Clinical Trials Office, to study protein expression in Fontan associated liver disease. He is in the planning phase of a multicenter study focused on genomics in patients with aortic disease and bicuspid aortic valves.

Clinical Outcomes

Our group is focused on a multitude of studies to assess predictors of poor outcomes in patients with congenital heart disease. We are working on an international, multicenter study of MRI predictors of systemic right ventricular dysfunction; we are nearing completion of a study focused on optimizing timing of pulmonary valve replacement in patients with pulmonary stenosis; and we are assessing the impact of PVR on quality of life in patients with tetralogy of Fallot. We are also finalizing data on a study focused on aortic dilation in patients with tetralogy of Fallot and are in the planning and implementation phase of a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) targeted study to diagnose and treat anxiety in ACHD patients.