Prince Kannankeril

Study defines role of steroids in congenital heart disease surgery

Steroids are commonly given to infants during open-heart surgery to reduce inflammation, but whether the drugs significantly improve patient outcomes has not been settled — until now.

Joseph Breeyear, left, Todd Edwards, PhD, and colleagues are studying how high blood pressure genes can improve heart surgery survival in children.

High blood pressure genes improve heart surgery survival in children

Vanderbilt researchers have found that children with a genetic makeup that predicts high blood pressure as adults are more likely to survive congenital heart defect repair surgery.

Kannankeril named inaugural holder of the Richard B. Johnston Jr., MD, Chair in Pediatric Research

Prince Kannankeril, MD, MSCI, has been appointed inaugural holder of the Richard B. Johnston Jr. MD, Chair in Pediatric Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Grant creates center for maternal, pediatric precision therapeutics

Vanderbilt University Medical Center has been awarded a five-year, $6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to serve as a center of excellence for Maternal and Pediatric Precision in Therapeutics.

Tailoring treatment for heart defect

By defining the clinical and genetic factors that predict treatment response, Vanderbilt investigators aim to personalize therapy for a common heart complication in preterm infants.

Kannankeril elected VP for research of the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society

Prince Kannankeril, MD, MSCI, has been elected to serve as vice president for research of the Pediatric and Congenital Electrophysiology Society.