Center for Cardiovascular Research

The mission of the Center for Cardiovascular Research is to conduct innovative, mechanism-based research leading to improved therapies and outcomes for pediatric cardiovascular diseases and to foster preventive strategies and promote cardiovascular health in adults.

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The Abigail Wexner Research Institute is ranked among the top 10 for NIH funding among free-standing children's hospitals.

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Areas of Focus
Grant Awards
Training Links
Career Opportunities

Our Areas of Focus

  • Cardiovascular Development
  • Congenital and Acquired Valve Disease
  • Vascular Disease and Homeostasis
  • Genetics of Congenital Heart Disease

Center Extramural Grant Funding

Investigator Title Sponsor Award Years
Mingtao Zhao Maternal blood biomarker discovery for predicting ventricular growth in human fetuses with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA-IVS) Additional Ventures Innovation Fund 2021 - 2023
Sathiyanarayanan Manivannan Developmental origins of HLHS examined using genetically-linked RBFOX2 variant AHA 2021 - 2022
Kim McBride Functional consequences of FHC mutations in cardiac MyBPC Case Western Reserve University/ NIH 2020 - 2025
Mingtao Zhao Elucidating Mechanisms of Ventricular Hypoplasia in Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum (PA-IVS) Using Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Additional Ventures Innovation Fund 2020 - 2022
Kim McBride Development of a Protocol to Risk Stratify Individuals with Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Disease Using Deep Phenotyping and Genome Sequencing Additional Ventures Innovation Fund 2020 - 2022
Kim McBride The Genetics of Cardiovascular Malformations: A Clinical Approach Indiana University/ AHA 2019 - 2022
Vidu Garg
 Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying Maternal Diabetes Associated Cardiac Malformations
 NIH/NHLBI
 2019 - 2023
Mingtao Zhao NOTCH Signaling in Human Vascular Development and CADASIL AHA 2018 - 2021
Aaron Trask Novel Non-Invasive Coronary Flow Patterning to Predict Early Coronary Microvascular Disease NIH/NIBIB 2018 - 2021
Madhumita Basu Mechanisms of Maternal Hyperglycemia Induced Risk of Congenital Heart Disease AHA 2018 - 2021
Brenda Lilly Mechanisms of Cardiac and Pulmonary Fibrosis in Relation to TGF-beta Signaling and miR-145 Function NIH/NHLBI 2017 - 2021
Kim McBride Center of Research Translation in Muscular Dystrophy Therapeutic Development - Muscular Dystrophy Cell and Serum Banking Core NIH/NIAMS 2016 - 2021
Brenda Lilly, Vidu Garg The Role of Notch in Calcific Aortic Valve Disease NIH/NHLBI 2016 - 2020
Aaron Trask Differential Macro- and Micro-Vascular Remodeling in Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome NIH/NHLBI 2016 - 2020

Training Links

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Training in Congenital and Acquired Heart Disease

A five-year, $1.6 million training grant funds in-depth, interdisciplinary, translational and state-of-the-art research training in congenital and acquired heart disease to clinicians and basic scientists.

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Patient-Centered Pediatric Research Program

The Patient-Centered Pediatric Research Program prepares postdoctoral fellows to engage in independent outcomes research in child health settings and become leaders in the conduct of patient- and family-centered outcomes research.

Research Medical Fellows

Research Pathway

The Integrated Research Pathway is an American Board of Pediatrics  approved mechanism for pediatric residency training. Learn more about this program and the application process. 

Research Institute Training Association (RITA)

Trainee Association

The Research Institute’s Trainee Association (RITA) was created in 2013 to help better train and prepare trainees for their “next steps.”

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Office of Trainee Affairs (OTA)

Research education and training is vital to the mission of the Abigail Wexner Research Institute (AWRI) at Nationwide Children's Hospital. As a top 10 free-standing pediatric research center and an academic affiliate of The Ohio State University, AWRI has an outstanding faculty dedicated to

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Research and Academic Events

Learn more about research and academic events going on at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Career Opportunities

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Career Opportunities

We have a purpose for every passion. Join our team and discover your passion for what’s possible in providing best outcomes for children.

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Research Positions at Nationwide Children's

Click here to view a list of our current openings at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

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Inside the Center for Cardiovascular Research

Meet Our Team

Learn more about director Vidu Garg, MD, and his team of principal investigators at the Center for Cardiovascular Research.

Cardiovascular Research Shared Resource

The Cardiovascular Research Shared Resource is available to facilitate both basic and translational research for basic science and clinical faculty.

Basu Lab

Under the direction of Madhumita Basu, PhD, the Basu Lab focuses on understanding the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of how maternal adverse environment influences the normal heart development in the embryos. 

Garg Lab

Under the direction of Vidu Garg, MD, The Garg Lab focuses on identifying the genetic contributors to congenital heart defects.

Lilly Lab

Under the direction of Brenda Lilly, PhD, the Lilly Lab is interested in the fundamentals of blood vessel formation and smooth muscle differentiation.

McBride Lab

Under the direction of Kim McBride, MD, MS, the McBride lab investigates the cause of congenital heart defects, with a focus on malformations involving the left side of the heart.

McConnell Lab

Under the direction of Patrick McConnell, MD, the McConnell’s Lab focuses on studying biological models of heart function, pathophysiology and cardiac assisting devices.

Trask Lab

Under the direction of Aaron Trask, PhD, the Trask Lab's research focuses on studying processes involved in adverse micro- and macro-vascular remodeling in disease.

Zhao Lab

Under the direction Mingtao Zhao, DVM, PhD, the Zhao Lab is exploring the genetic basis of cardiovascular development and congenital heart disease using patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).

Related Specialties

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The Heart Center (Cardiology)
Center for Regenerative Medicine

Center for Regenerative Medicine