Mitral valve stenosis
Research & Innovation
At Children’s Hospital Boston, our care is informed by our research, and our discoveries in the laboratory strengthen the care we provide at each child's bedside. Children’s scientific research program is one of the largest and most active of any pediatric hospital in the world.
In particular, our cardiovascular and cardiac surgery researchers are yielding crucial insights into the causes and development of heart defects and disorders; paving ground for the most promising new treatments and interventions; and offering ideas and discoveries that could one day lead to cures.
Learn more about our ongoing research efforts.
Among our current research projects with promise for treating mitral valve stenosis are:
Reversing heart damage with a simple injection
A team of Children’s researchers—led by Bernhard Kuhn, MD, of the Department of Cardiology—has demonstrated that a growth factor called neuregulin1 (NRG1) can encourage the growth of muscle and the restoration of function after damage to the heart. Mice who received a simple injection of NRG1 have experienced considerable reversal of pre-existing damage caused by heart attacks.
Using robotic surgery to treat congenital heart defects
Children’s cardiac surgeon-in-chief Pedro del Nido, MD, and his team are exploring new ways of incorporating minimally invasive surgical techniques—in particular, the use of highly sensitive and precise robots in surgery—to correct congenital heart defects affecting the so-called “left heart” (the left atrium and ventricle).
Watch video clips of del Nido discussing this work.
|Frequently used cardiac procedures in action|
|See some of the most common cardiac procedures here at Children's.|
Children’s is known for pioneering some of the most effective diagnostic tools, therapies and preventive approaches in pediatric cardiology. A significant part of our success comes from our commitment to research—and to advancing the frontiers of mental health care by conducting clinical trials.
Children’s coordinates hundreds of clinical trials at any given time. Clinical trials are studies that may involve:
- evaluating the effectiveness of a new drug therapy
- testing a new diagnostic procedure or device
- examining a new treatment method for a particular condition
- taking a closer look at the causes and progression of specific diseases
Children’s is involved in several multi-site clinical trials and studies focusing on pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery, in particular. While children must meet strict criteria in order to be eligible for a clinical trial, your child may be eligible to take part in a study. Before considering this option, you should be sure to:
- consult with your child’s treating physician and treatment team
- gather as much information as possible about the specific course of action outlined in the trial
- do your own research about the latest breakthroughs relating to your child’s condition
If your physician recommends that your child participate in a clinical trial, you can feel confident that the plan detailed for that study represents the best and most innovative care available. Taking part in a clinical trial at Children’s is entirely voluntary. Our team will be sure to fully address any questions you may have, and you may remove your child from the medical study at any time.
- Search current and upcoming clinical trials at Children’s
- Search the National Institutes of Health’s list of clinical trials taking place around the world
The role of stem cells in the fight against heart disease
|Learn more about our research in this vital area.|