Overview

Penn State Hershey Center for Pediatric Cardiovascular Research

Akif ‹ndar, PhD

 
Over the past seven years at Penn State Hershey we have established a multi-disciplinary research team with the goal to improve the outcomes for children undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and mechanical circulatory support. The Penn State Hershey Center for Pediatric Cardiovascular Research has been established with the collaboration of teams from multiple academic departments and representing multiple disciplines. This center combines basic science, engineering, and clinical applications under the unified mission of pediatric cardiovascular research. Scientists and clinicians in the center represent the departments of Pediatrics, Surgery, Bioengineering, Anesthesiology, Comparative Medicine, Public Health Sciences, Pharmacology, and Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Our major objective is the development of novel technologies and methodologies to be used in minimizing the adverse effects of cardiovascular operations and cardiopulmonary bypass in neonates, infants, and children. Particular attention will be focused on reducing the associated morbidities of cerebral, myocardial, pulmonary, and renal injury.

Our long term aspirations are to: 1) establish The Penn State Hershey Center for Pediatric Cardiovascular Research as a leading center for further development  of novel treatments and cutting edge devices for cardiovascular health in pediatric populations both at Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital and at other pediatric heart centers around the world; 2) educate more bioengineers, medical students, residents, post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty members in pediatric cardiovascular research; and 3) ensure that our international conference continues to be the leading conference for defining the problems of current mechanical circulatory support systems in pediatric patients and suggesting appropriate solutions for these pediatric cardiac patients.

Akif ‹ndar, PhD
Professor of Pediatrics, Surgery, and Bioengineering
Founder & Director, Penn State Hershey Center for Pediatric Cardiovascular Research