#United States #Cincinnati #NIH Grant #Cincinnati Children's #Congenital Heart Disease

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Receives Major NIH Grant Renewal

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has been awarded a substantial $38.4 million grant renewal from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). This funding will enable the hospital to continue its pivotal role in a national research program aimed at enhancing the understanding and treatment of congenital heart disease (CHD) for both children and adults.

Expanding the Bench to Bassinet Program

This significant grant marks the next phase of the NIH's Bench to Bassinet Program, which is known as B2B CHANGE (Congenital Heart Disease Advancing New understanding in GEnomics). With this renewed support, Cincinnati Children's will build on over 15 years of investment in the Congenital Heart Disease Genetic Network Study (CHD GENES), which has enrolled more than 14,000 individuals with heart disease and an additional 18,000 family members.

The grant period runs from May 15, 2026, to April 30, 2032, representing the third cycle of funding for the Cincinnati Children's coordinating center, following earlier awards of $33.4 million and $21.4 million.

The Impact of Congenital Heart Disease

CHD is the most common major birth defect affecting approximately 40,000 infants each year in the United States. The complexity of these heart conditions can require various interventions, including surgeries, catheter-based procedures, and long-term medical management. Improvements in medical care have enabled many affected children to reach adulthood, thus making long-term studies essential for improving health outcomes.

A Shift in Focus

The previous phases of the Bench to Bassinet program have identified genetic causes in about 25% of previously unexplained cases of CHD. With this new funding, the focus will shift from enrolling new participants and genetic discovery to conducting long-term follow-ups. This will help researchers understand the relationships between genetic variations and clinical outcomes, daily life quality, and future healthcare needs. Nicholas Ollberding, PhD, the principal investigator at Cincinnati Children's, emphasizes the significance of linking genomic data to ongoing clinical evaluations and patient-reported outcomes. This approach aims to address critical questions families have regarding the origins of their child’s heart defects and their long-term health implications.

Advanced Cohort Engagement

Under prior grants, Cincinnati Children's has served as the coordinating center for the Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium, facilitating large-scale participant recruitment and genomic sequencing. This enabled the creation of the world's largest cohort of individuals with CHD, evaluating whole genome sequencing data from over 16,000 biosamples. Moving forward, B2B CHANGE will re-engage a smaller subset of participants for in-depth follow-ups and to collect new biological samples.

Innovative Community Engagement

The B2B CHANGE initiative will see Jessica Woo, PhD, at the helm of the Cohort and Community Engagement Core. The team will comprise experts with diverse backgrounds, focusing on community outreach, cohort recruitment, and genetic counseling to ensure comprehensive engagement with families and advocacy groups.

The project also promises the modernization of CHD data infrastructure led by Michael Wagner, PhD, which will augment the existing B2B DataHub, known as HeartsMart. The aim is to enhance usability and accessibility, enabling researchers nationwide to tap into this resource effectively.

Optimizing Clinical Care

James Cnota, MD, another principal investigator, highlights that this initiative could lead to more tailored care and follow-up protocols for children with congenital heart disease. Understanding genetic variations alongside extensive clinical data could support more personalized approaches to monitoring health outcomes, ultimately enhancing patient care.

Conclusion

This renewed funding signifies a notable investment in the future of congenital heart disease research and underscores Cincinnati Children's Hospital's commitment to improving health outcomes for affected individuals and their families. As the program evolves, it will undoubtedly continue to provide invaluable insights into the complexities of congenital heart disease, fostering better relationships between genetics and clinical care.

Learn more about how you can get involved with the Bench to Bassinet program or support ongoing research efforts by visiting the Cincinnati Children's Hospital website.