Fetal Cardiology Research and Innovation

Our mission is to advance the care of children with heart disease, beginning in fetal life. We embrace an innovative approach to fetal cardiac care. Our fetal cardiology team continues to be at the forefront of fetal cardiology research, and we integrate our discoveries into our care.

Multi-institutional collaborative research

We have led and participated in several multi-institutional studies investigating the outcomes of fetuses with:

• Arrhythmias
• Heart muscle disorders
• Structural heart problems

In particular, some of our studies relate to the use of maternal hyperoxygenation in certain forms of heart disease, including:

• Transposition of the great arteries
• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome/left heart hypoplasia
• Ebstein’s anomaly.

Additionally, we are institutional sponsors of the Fetal Heart Society, an organization advancing cardiovascular care through collaborative research.

Counseling and education innovation

In addition to investigating how fetuses are medically treated, we work to improve how we relate to our patient families and with other health professionals:

• Family counseling: We have a number of studies investigating the optimal ways to counsel families dealing with new diagnoses of cardiac disease.
• Provider training: Through our fetal education project, we are using the latest technology to reach all health care providers who may benefit from training.

Ongoing medical and clinical research efforts:

Our current research initiatives cover a wide range of fetal cardiac concerns:

Structural and developmental studies

• Development of fetal coarctation and coordination with postnatal care
• Fetal aortic valve disease progression
• Placental differences in congenital heart disease
• Fetal arrhythmias
• Maternal hyperoxygenation for growth of left-sided structures and kinetics

Fetal Heart Society Projects

• Twin-twin transfusion syndrome: impact of mitral regurgitation
• Pulmonary atresia, intact ventricular septum
• Transposition of the great arteries
• Truncus arteriosus
• Mitral valve regurgitation in the fetus
• Deep learning models for fetal echo diagnosis

Technology and wellness

• Impact of prenatal diagnosis on family wellness
• Fetal Education Interactive Modules