Research & Innovation
The Congenital Heart Center’s clinical research team strives to lead new health solutions for children and adults with congenital heart disease. Ongoing studies are evaluating advancements in diagnosis, treatment, and management of congenital heart disease, as well as implementation of new modalities of treatment and care.
Technology Innovations
Innovations play a key role in the health and well-being of children and adults with congenital heart disease. Our recent innovations have focused on developing custom devices to help patients where there are no alternative treatment options.

We are one of the world’s leading centers for three-dimensional echocardiography. Our experts were the first in the world to successfully integrate CT and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography to print a hybrid 3-D model of a patient’s heart. Our cardiologists and surgeons use 3-D printing technology to assist and plan for complex congenital heart surgery.

Patient Research Studies
Our basic research is focused on micro ribonucleic acid profiling, flow cytometry and creating induced pluripotent stem cells to better understand the development of congenital heart disease and various complications and co-morbidities. Our translational research is focused on advancing new therapies in congenital heart disease including development of new devices. Our clinical research is focused on evaluating the safety and efficacy of new therapies, outcomes, patient well-being and perceptions, and quality improvement initiatives.
Congenital Heart Research Education and Innovation at Spectrum Health (CHERISH)
CHERISH is a designated fund of the Spectrum Health Foundation that supports research, education and innovation initiatives for children and adults with congenital heart disease, which have resulted in several presentations at scientific meetings and publications in peer-reviewed medical journals.
Health Beat
-
A closer look at a complex heart
Pediatric cardiologists use 3-D viewing technology to plan how to re-route and replace a teenager’s blood vessel.
-
‘A huge leap for individualized medicine’
Spectrum Health researchers combine imaging scans to produce first 3-D heart model of its kind.