Our research team investigates brain development, brain injury and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with congenital heart disease. Congenital heart disease, the most common birth defect, is linked to high rates of neurodevelopmental impairments throughout childhood, adolescence and adulthood. These impairments stem from brain dysmaturation that begins prenatally. Using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, we study brain development in fetuses, infants and children with congenital heart disease. Our focus is on innovative MRI approaches to enhance our understanding of the pathways affecting brain development, ultimately aiming to identify targeted neuroprotective strategies to improve outcomes.
Currently, we are exploring the mechanisms of brain dysmaturation in relation to:
- The prenatal environment and the placenta
- Cardiac physiology and the intensive care environment
- Parental well-being
- Social determinants of health