Heart & Stroke, in collaboration with Brain Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health, and the Institute of Genetics, has announced the three successful research teams of the Congenital Heart Disease Team Grants competition.

The research will focus on congenital heart disease (CHD) throughout the lifespan, considering physical and mental health, sex and gender, Indigenous health and wellness, and health equity.

The following teams have been awarded grants:

Lead Investigator	Host Institution	Project Title	Research Area
Luc Mertens	The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)	PHUR4Life Precision Health for patients with Univentricular Hearts across the Lifespan (PHUR4Life)	Causes and Early Detection
Thalia Field	University of British Columbia	Lifespan Brain Health Trajectories in Congenital Heart Disease: the role of sex and gender	Brain Health and CHD
Andrew Mackie	University of Alberta	Optimizing Care Transitions Across the Lifespan in Congenital Heart Disease	Care Transitions

 

People with CHD are living longer due to advancements in treatment during infancy and childhood. However, access to specialized care and services remains a significant challenge for individuals and families affected by CHD across Canada.

These grants aim to enhance methods for early detection of complications, study the connection between heart and brain, and improve care transitions between youth and adult healthcare systems. The goal is to improve the lives of individuals with CHD through comprehensive research.

“We are thrilled to be supporting three outstanding teams, along with our partners, who will lead the way in improving care for those living with CHD,” says Doug Roth, CEO of Heart & Stroke.

“Nine out of ten children with CHD now survive into adulthood, but these conditions are lifelong. New research will help advance our knowledge of CHD and better support people living with CHD throughout their lives.”

Viviane Poupon, president, and CEO of Brain Canada, stated, “We are proud to collaborate with Heart & Stroke, CIHR, and these three esteemed research teams to drive innovative solutions for congenital heart disease. These winning teams exemplify our collective commitment to advancing research that considers the holistic needs of patients and our dedication to promoting equity in access to care.”

Ariane Marelli and Christopher McMaster, Institute Scientific directors at CIHR, expressed their excitement, saying, “CIHR is excited to support discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our healthcare system.”

“These three teams will lead cutting-edge research to address important health challenges and barriers for people living with CHD. Through this partnered funding, we hope to bridge gaps between research evidence, health outcomes, and equitable access to care,” they continued.

Funding for the Congenital Heart Disease Team Grants has been made possible by the Canada Brain Research Fund (CBRF), an innovative arrangement between the Government of Canada (through Health Canada) and Brain Canada Foundation; the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canada’s primary health research funding agency, and its Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health and Institute of Genetics; and Heart & Stroke.