The American Academy of Pediatrics and The Children’s Heart Foundation have announced the newest recipient of their Pediatric Cardiology Research Fellowship Award.
Dr. Michael Jiang will receive funding to support research in connection with her pediatric cardiology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital. This award is made possible by a $35,000 educational grant from The Children’s Heart Foundation, the nation’s leading organization dedicated to funding congenital heart defect research.
Jiang’s project is entitled “Anomalous Coronary Compression and Influence of Aortic Wall Stiffness on Ischemia” and seeks to improve how physicians evaluate and treat patients born with anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery. This congenital heart defect is among the top two leading causes of sudden cardiac death in children and young adults during exercise.
Currently, non-invasive imaging cannot capture the detailed three-dimensional coronary anatomy during exercise, forcing doctors to rely on invasive imaging and pressure measurements to assess whether surgery is needed. This project will test the use of computer simulation and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to offer more precise and less invasive alternatives. This research will also lay the foundation for future advances in congenital heart disease evaluation, including integration of anatomic imaging, myocardial perfusion, and scar characterization.
“By combining advanced simulations with MRI imaging, we hope to transform how we assess risk for children with anomalous coronary arteries,” said Jiang. “This research may one day allow us to personalize care and reduce the need for invasive procedures.”
Congenital heart defects are the nation’s most common birth defect and impact at least one in 110 children in the United States. The Children’s Heart Foundation and the American Academy of Pediatrics have partnered through this award to promote understanding of cardiovascular disease in children and to support the next generation of physician-scientists advancing CHD research.
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About the Children’s Heart Foundation
The Children’s Heart Foundation is a national nonprofit on a mission to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital heart defects by funding the most promising research. Since 1996, The Children’s Heart Foundation has funded nearly $20 million in congenital heart defect research and scientific collaborations. For more information, visit childrensheartfoundation.org and follow on Facebook, Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.
About the American Academy of Pediatrics
The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org and follow on X @AmerAcadPeds.
