Observational Study of Heart Tissue in Children with Congenital Heart Disease

This observational study is looking at small pieces of heart tissue from children (ages newborn to 20 years old) who are having heart surgery for conditions like congenital heart disease (heart problems present at birth) or tetralogy of Fallot (a specific type of congenital heart defect). The researchers want to understand how heart cells in infants and children work differently from adult heart cells, especially how calcium ions move through the heart cell membrane to control how strongly the heart contracts. They will also study the proteins and RNA in these heart tissue samples. The goal is to learn more about how young hearts develop and function, which could help improve treatments in the future. You might be able to participate if you are undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery or surgery for congenital heart disease, and have not had prior heart surgery or certain heart rhythm problems.

Study design
This is an observational study with a planned enrollment of 600 participants. It is not testing a specific intervention or drug.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The study will measure calcium current for up to 13 years and changes in heart cell maturation for up to 3 years.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT00243776

Molecular and Cellular Characterization of Cardiac Tissue in Postnatal Development

Recruiting
Not specifiedUp to 20Observational
Emory University
~600 participants
Updated 2026-05-06 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Calcium Current Measures
Measured over Duration of Study (Up to 13 Years)
+1 more outcome measured
Congenital Heart Disease
Tetralogy of Fallot

NCT00243776

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Emory University School of Medicine

    Atlanta, Georgiano site contact published

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Michael E Davis, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Emory University

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery
Patients undergoing surgery for repair of congenital heart disease such as ventricular septal defect or defective mitral or aortic valves.

Exclusion

Prior cardiac surgery
History of atrial fibrillation or other atrial arrhythmias prior to operation
History of heart failure
  • Calcium Current MeasuresDuration of Study (Up to 13 Years)

    Calcium currents including transients and modulation of calcium handling by activation of different pathways in isolated cells from waste tissue obtained at the time of surgical repair for Congenital Heart Disease will be measured for the duration of the study.

  • Change in structural, functional and metabolic maturation of Human pluripotent stem cell derived Cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs)Duration of Study (Up to 3 Years)

    Change in structural, functional and metabolic maturation of Human pluripotent stem cell derived Cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) is achieved using combinations of 3D cardiac spheres with multiple environmental cues to improve mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO or beta-oxidation) pathway will promote functional and metabolic maturation of hPSC-CMs and generate a more clinically relevant model. The outcome will be measured whether the cells achieved maturation (structural, functional and metabolic maturation) or not after using combinations of 3D cardiac spheres with multiple environmental cues.