Funding outcome

Newborns may be affected by heart disease if their hearts do not properly develop, and unfortunately surgery to correct the heart problem can lead to thickening of the heart muscle, ultimately decreasing blood flow through the newborn heart. Fortunately, therapeutic strategies are being developed to optimize the outcomes after surgery, one of which is focused on cardiac metabolism. Like a car engine, the heart uses fuels that it metabolizes, or breaks down, to form energy for contractile function. However, instead of gasoline, the heart uses nutrients for its fuels such as fats and carbohydrates. Depending on the heart condition, the heart may be relying on the wrong type of fuel which can contribute to thickening of the heart wall. Therefore, my research will investigate whether newborn hearts with defects rely on different fuels than a newborn healthy heart. This will help identify novel targets to try and optimize fuel usage in the diseased newborn heart. I will measure the molecules that are changing in infant surgical heart tissue using biochemical techniques. Altogether, my research will improve our understanding of the cardiac metabolic profile in the newborn heart and how this can predispose a newborn to heart disease. Ultimately, research findings will help improve patient care of newborns with heart defects.