# Assessment of Myocardial Dysfunction and Inflammation after Pediatric Cardiac Arrest

> **NIH NIH K23** · CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA · 2024 · $145,910

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Pediatric cardiac arrest occurs in over 20,000 children annually in the United States, with mortality rates as
high as 50%. In children who survive their arrest, post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) manifests as
secondary organ injury with the return of circulation, including brain injury, ischemia-reperfusion, and
myocardial dysfunction. Pediatric PCAS is relatively understudied, specifically in the domains of post-cardiac
arrest myocardial dysfunction and systemic and cardiac inflammation. Preliminary data, though in small
cohorts and retrospective in nature, have demonstrated associations between myocardial dysfunction and
elevated markers of inflammation and injury with post-cardiac arrest mortality. This K23 proposal leverages the
robust research infrastructure within the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of
Pennsylvania (UPENN) to conduct a larger, single-center prospective observational study in a total of 200
critically ill children after cardiac arrest. Advanced echocardiographic imaging after arrest will include global
longitudinal strain (GLS), a more sensitive measure of myocardial dysfunction compared to standard measures
of ejection and shortening fraction. Systemic and myocardial inflammation will be assessed early after cardiac
arrest by circulating biomarkers in a customized panel of proteins associated with outcomes in other disease
processes. These measures will be individually examined for their association with hospital mortality, and
survival to hospital discharge with unfavorable neurologic outcome. Together, with clinical data, these
measures will be assessed with latent cluster analysis to create pediatric PCAS phenotypes which will be
distinctly associated with outcomes. This phenotyping will allow for better understanding of pediatric PCAS to
allow for trial enrichment in future interventional studies. The principal investigator of this study, Dr. Monique
Gardner, is uniquely positioned to complete this study with her training in pediatrics, pediatric cardiology, and
pediatric critical care, as well as her experience to date with research in critically ill children with cardiac
disease. Supported by her mentorship team and research environment, she will leverage the opportunity to
study advanced biostatistical techniques, echocardiography, and biomarker assessment to mature into an
independent patient-oriented clinician-scientist to improve outcomes for critically ill children.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10947229
- **Project number:** 1K23HL175123-01
- **Recipient organization:** CHILDREN'S HOSP OF PHILADELPHIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Monique-Anne Gardner
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $145,910
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-01 → 2029-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10947229

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10947229, Assessment of Myocardial Dysfunction and Inflammation after Pediatric Cardiac Arrest (1K23HL175123-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10947229. Licensed CC0.

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