Rapid funding fuels momentum for CiCHD
Since its official launch in March 2026, the Center for Innovation in Congenital Heart Disease (CiCHD) has received more than $1.1 million in grants and support to drive their research.
The newly awarded $650,000 Additional Ventures grant will support the development of the first immune-integrated, 3D bioprinted human model of Fontan-Associated Liver Disease (FALD), a serious and nearly universal complication affecting children and adults living with single-ventricle heart disease after the Fontan procedure. Using patient-derived stem cells, advanced 3D bioprinting, organ-on-a-chip technologies, and multi-omics approaches, CiCHD aims to recreate the unique hemodynamic and inflammatory environment experienced by Fontan patients, identify the mechanisms driving progressive liver fibrosis, and accelerate the discovery and testing of new therapies. This work has the potential to improve the long-term health and quality of life of thousands of Fontan survivors worldwide.
L-R: CiCHD Co-Directors Vahid Serpooshan, PhD; Holly Bauser-Heaton, MD, PhD, FSCAI, FACC; and Damien J. LaPar, MD, MSc
More broadly, this award further strengthens CiCHD as a national hub for congenital heart disease bioengineering and translational pediatric research. “Combined with the other grants and philanthropic support received since our launch in March, these investments are helping us build a unique platform that brings together clinicians, engineers, and scientists to accelerate innovation for children and families affected by congenital heart disease,” said CiCHD Co-Director Vahid Serpooshan, PhD.