Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Research

The fellows are offered research training and experience in the following disciplines. Applicants are not required to have a background in research.

Our fellows participate in research spanning all subspecialties of Pediatric Cardiology, as well as quality improvement and education. Supportive faculty and a robust clinical volume allow our fellows to be incredibly productive, as evidenced by their list of publications. Review their recently published work.

Human and animal hemodynamic and pharmacologic studies are offered within the Pediatric Cardiology section and in collaboration with the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Department of Medicine.

Research and training in the techniques of myocardial biology, emphasizing cardiac development, are offered by the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences. Studies of the effects of development and various hemodynamic stresses on subcellular organelles, as well as biochemical genetics studies, are currently under way.

This may be conducted in the Texas Children's General Clinical Research Center, an eight bed facility for physiologic, pharmacologic, biochemical and metabolic studies. Other investigations of patients, including review of prior experience and prospective studies, are conducted outside the GCRC.

Clinical intact animal and microelectrode studies are in progress to investigate mechanisms of arrhythmias in children and developmental changes in animal models. Numerous opportunities for clinical research exist as well.

Studies can be carried out on the epidemiology of congenital and acquired heart disease through The University of Texas School of Public Health, the Epidemiology Branch of Baylor College of Medicine's DeBakey Center, or the Texas Children's Preventive Cardiology Clinic.

The current areas of research include generation of heart sounds, comparison of heart valve motion and blood flow, intracardiac blood flow, valvular regurgitation, pulmonary vascular impedance and the pharmacologic evaluation of drugs.

Improvements in the ability to treat congenital heart disease during catheterization are under investigation in animal models and in application to human use with long term follow-up.

Clinical and basic science opportunities are available.

Projects are in place with application of NMR to imaging of the pediatric heart and in tissue characterization.

The Phoebe Willingham Muzzy Pediatric Molecular Cardiology Laboratory within our section is both independent, as well as being a part of the Baylor College of Medicine Institute for Early Heart Development Research. With the opening of the new research facilities in the fall of 2002, the lab added 9,000 square feet of space. Opportunities in Cell Biology and Medicine at the Institute for Molecular Genetics exist, as well as opportunities in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.

The Phoebe Willingham Muzzy Pediatric Molecular Cardiology Laboratory within our section is both independent, as well as being a part of the Baylor College of Medicine Institute for Early Heart Development Research. With the opening of the new research facilities in the fall of 2002, the lab added 9,000 square feet of space. Opportunities in Cell Biology and Medicine at the Institute for Molecular Genetics exist, as well as opportunities in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.

Efforts to predict and modify rejection after heart transplantation in childhood continues with collaboration between the Cardiac Transplant Service and the Pediatric Immunology Section. Other projects include mechanical circulatory support and investigations into the etiology of cardiomyopathies.

The Children's Nutrition Research Center of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is physically attached to Texas Children's Hospital, offers the opportunity for utilizing stable isotopes for the study of myocardial metabolism, basic research projects related to nutrition and cardiac function, and atherosclerosis research.

The role of white cells in myocardial injury, with cardiopulmonary bypass, and in transplant rejection are all under investigation.

The largest cardiovascular clinic in North America, this clinic combines the expertise of members of Cardiology and Molecular and Human Genetics. Multiple clinical and basic science projects are available and under study.