Group of summer institute students in white shirts in Webber Plaza
August 1, 2026

CiCHD Summer Institute celebrates the inaugural class of future innovators

The Center for Innovation in Congenital Heart Disease (CiCHD) proudly celebrated the successful completion of the inaugural CiCHD Summer Institute, held from June 15 to July 15, 2026. The month-long program brought together 32 exceptional high school and undergraduate students,…


Holly Bauser-Heaton, MD, PhD, in white coat
July 28, 2026

UT Physicians features Pediatric Cardiology Division Chief Holly Bauser-Heaton, MD, PhD

A pediatric cardiologist’s battle with heart failure and how it transformed her approach to care   In 2016, pediatric cardiologist Holly D. Bauser-Heaton, MD, PhD, had just finished a long day on her feet caring for her young patients in Georgia…


Schematic overview of the development and mechanobiological characterization of a perfusable 3D bioengineered human liver sinusoid model for studying Fontan-associated liver disease
June 15, 2026

CiCHD researchers develop groundbreaking human-based model for Fontan-associated liver disease

Researchers at the Center for Innovation in Congenital Heart Disease (CiCHD) at UTHealth Houston have developed a first-of-its-kind, human-based model designed to advance understanding and treatment of Fontan-associated liver disease (FALD), a serious and increasingly recognized complication affecting survivors of…


CiCHD lab team and Foundation members around banner
June 15, 2026

Graeme McDaniel Foundation visits Center for Innovation in Congenital Heart Disease

On April 10, 2026, the Center for Innovation in Congenital Heart Disease (CiCHD) at UTHealth Houston welcomed members of The Graeme McDaniel Foundation (external link) Board of Directors for a special visit and discussion focused on the future of congenital…


Bioprinted item under microscope
June 15, 2026

CiCHD researchers publish groundbreaking 3D bioprinted model of early human heart development in Nature Communications

Researchers affiliated with the Center for Innovation in Congenital Heart Disease (CiCHD) have published a landmark study in Nature Communications introducing what is believed to be the first fully human-based, 3D bioprinted, and perfused model of the embryonic heart tube—the…


Group of center team in lab
June 12, 2026

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…


Group of center team in lab
May 4, 2026

Pediatric cardiology home to new center driving breakthroughs in congenital heart disease

[Adapted from New center driving breakthroughs in congenital heart disease] A new multidisciplinary center at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston is bringing together experts across medicine, science, and engineering to transform how congenital heart disease is understood and treated…


Doctor holding toddler in hospital
April 1, 2026

Pediatric cardiology success: How a tiny patient and a determined care team delayed a heart transplant

[As featured by UTHealth Houston Public Affairs, February 23, 2026] Kelly Jensen went in for her 20-week ultrasound, nervous but excited to see her baby boy’s progress. When the ultrasound tech suddenly left to get the doctor, Kelly knew something…


Dr. O'Connor holding certificate
March 31, 2026

Pediatrics Honors, April 2026

Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine shines at SSPR 2026 Pediatric Cardiology and Allergy and Immunology named among UT Physicians Clinics of the Quarter (external link) for Q1, FY26. Yuying Liu, PhD, MEd, received the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) Laboratory Travel Grant (external link) to attend the Immunology 2026 Conference…


Five people posing together at luncheon
October 30, 2025

DoP Honors, Nov 2025

J. Marc Rhoads, MD, and Yuying Liu, PhD, (pictured above with award) received an award from BioGaia (external link) in recognition of rigorous science and outstanding results. Maria del Mar Romero López, MD, MS, PhD, has been elected to membership in…


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