Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Medical College of Wisconsin, Inc. received a $792,011 Project Grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837), awarded July 15, 2026, with completion targeted for March 31, 2030. The award funds validation of cell-free nucleic acid (CFNA)—specifically nuclear cell-free DNA (NCFDNA) and mitochondrial cell-free DNA (MCFDNA)—as clinically actionable biomarkers for predicting critical post-surgical events in infants undergoing complex congenital cardiac surgery. The research addresses a significant clinical need by developing improved predictive models for systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS), which remain major contributors to morbidity and mortality following cardiopulmonary bypass procedures in neonates and infants.

This project delivers translational research services aimed at establishing plasma CFNA as a measurable indicator of systemic inflammation and myocardial injury, thereby enabling more timely clinical interventions in the post-operative period. The work builds on preliminary studies suggesting CFNA biomarkers hold promise for adverse event prediction and represents a hypothesis-driven mechanistic investigation consistent with NHLBI's portfolio emphasis on cardiovascular disease research spanning basic, translational, and clinical sciences. The award is positioned within MCW's established research capability in cardiovascular disease and biomarker development and will be conducted at the institution's Wauwatosa, Wisconsin facility.