Understanding how heart defects affect brain development in children.

Oligo-Vascular Crosstalk in the Developing Brain: Implications For White Matter Injury In Congenital Heart Disease

NIH-funded research Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-10877795

This study is looking at how congenital heart disease can affect brain development in young children, especially how issues with blood flow and oxygen might lead to problems in the brain, and it hopes to find ways to help kids with these heart conditions have better outcomes.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionOregon Health & Science University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Portland, United States)
Project IDNIH-10877795 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of congenital heart disease (CHD) on brain development, particularly focusing on how poor blood flow and oxygen delivery can lead to white matter injuries in young children. By using a novel mouse model that simulates human heart defects, the study aims to uncover the relationship between heart structure and brain vascularization. The findings could help identify mechanisms behind neurodevelopmental issues like cerebral palsy in children with CHD, ultimately aiming to improve outcomes for affected patients.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children under 11 years old diagnosed with congenital heart disease.

Not a fit: Patients without congenital heart disease or those over the age of 11 may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and interventions for neurodevelopmental challenges in children with congenital heart disease.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between heart defects and brain development, indicating that this approach has potential for significant insights.

Where this research is happening

Portland, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired brain injury
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.