Postnatal low oxygen and heart immaturity impacting recovery after pediatric heart surgery
Official title: Postnatal hypoxemia, cardiac immaturity, and the impact on surgical recovery
Funded at Children's Research Institute · NIH-11293548 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will study how low oxygen levels after birth and immature heart cells affect recovery after heart surgery in children with congenital heart disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,818,088 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL178508-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11293548 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with congenital heart disease who require surgical correction, particularly those with cyanotic lesions and a history of hypoxemia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without CHD or those not undergoing surgical correction may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project will combine animal models, human samples, and patient data to understand why some children with congenital heart disease have worse recovery after surgery. By examining how hypoxemia (low blood oxygen) and cardiomyocyte maturity influence calcium handling, adrenergic signaling, and antioxidant support, the study aims to identify factors that drive complications. The team will look for how these biological factors affect responses to surgery and common drugs used to treat postoperative problems, with the goal of improving outcomes for cyanotic CHD patients. The work involves translating findings from models and human samples to better predict risk and tailor perioperative care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better strategies to reduce postoperative complications and improve survival and recovery for children undergoing heart surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies in both animal models and human samples have suggested links between oxygenation, cardiomyocyte maturity, and surgical outcomes, but this project combines approaches for more comprehensive insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Research Institute
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Posnack, Nikki Gillum — Children's Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Posnack, Nikki Gillum
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Hypoxemia during Sleep in Sickle Cell Disease: How Common is It and How Might Treatments Help
This study looks at how low oxygen during sleep affects adults with sickle cell disease and how they respond to therapy across multiple urban and rural sites.
-
Novel alveolar factors driving low oxygen in liver-related lung disease
A patient-focused study will explore how high bile acids in cirrhosis may harm tiny air sacs in the lungs, causing breathing problems in hepatopulmonary syndrome.
-
Intermittent Hypoxemia in Early Life and Sleep in Preterm Children
A study following school-age children who were born extremely preterm to understand how early breathing problems in the NICU relate to their sleep and health today.
-
Predicting occult low oxygen events in adults with acute respiratory failure
A small, patient-focused project aims to build a practical model to predict hidden low oxygen levels in adults with acute respiratory failure and understand what happens to them afterward.
-
Understanding injury in preterm infants with low oxygen levels
This study is looking at preterm babies who sometimes have low oxygen levels, and it aims to understand what causes harm to them and find new ways to help diagnose and treat these issues, all to improve their health and well-being.
-
Dry powder lung surfactant aerosol for people with low oxygen or ARDS on breathing support
This project is creating a dry powder lung surfactant you could inhale to help adults with low oxygen or ARDS who are on oxygen, noninvasive breathing support, or ventilators.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.