Molecular Basis of Congenital Heart Disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding the vascular endothelial structure, function and pathophysiology underlying the development of congenital heart disease.
IRAS ID
231240
Contact name
James Bentham
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 25 days
Research summary
The working hypothesis is that causes of congenital heart disease are disturbed vascular wall shear stress due to abnormal vascular anatomy and abnormal shear stress sensing caused by molecular changes in the aortic endothelium.
The study population will be children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery (either corrective or palliative) at Leeds General Infirmary. Prior to the child's surgery, parents will be informed of the purpose of the research and will be given a patient information leaflet and a consent form to allow their child to be part of the study.
At the time of surgery the resected tissue will be taken from the theatre to be stored appropriately for subsequent histopathologic, metabolomic, proteomic and genomic studies.
Through studying the molecular structure of the affected vascular endothelium we will then aim to identify correlations between the structure of the vascular endothelium and the development of congenital heart disease, with an aim to finding a novel cause of congenital heart disease.
In addition, a blood sample will be obtained for DNA extraction and analysis, allowing any underlying genetic changes to be recognised.
REC name
North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NE/0350
Date of REC Opinion
3 Nov 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion