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Mother Child W Physician
Pediatric Cardiology

Spearman Lab

Research in the Spearman Lab is focused on understanding the mechanisms of vascular remodeling in congenital heart disease. We are currently investigating the pathophysiology of pulmonary vascular remodeling in single ventricle congenital heart disease – specifically pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and aortopulmonary collaterals.

See Dr. Spearman's Publications
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Lab Research

Patients with palliated single ventricle congenital heart disease have greatly improved survival today due to multiple medical and surgical innovations. Improved survival has also led to increased prevalence of unintended complications of palliated single ventricle circulation. One widely recognized complication is the development of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs). Our current research utilizes patient tissue samples, surgical animal models, and in vitro approaches to study PAVMs.

Our research seeks to answer key questions about single ventricle PAVMS:

  1. What is the pathologic progression of pulmonary vascular remodeling in single ventricle PAMVs?
  2. How do hepatic vein blood and blood flow regulate normal pulmonary vascular homeostasis?
  3. What are the critical factors in hepatic vein blood that prevent PAVMs? In other words, what is hepatic factor?
  4. How do single ventricle PAVMs compare to heritable forms of PAVMs?

Recent Publication

Glenn circulation causes early and progressive shunting in a surgical model of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations

Glenn circulation causes early and progressive shunting in a surgical model of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations

Lab Updates

American Heart Association Scientific Council Awards 2024
Dr. Andrew Spearman wins 2024 Young Hearts Early Career Investigator Award from the American Heart Association
Additional Ventures Research Awards Programs
Dr. Andrew Spearman wins 2024 Single Ventricle Research Fund Award for "Longitudinal analysis of single ventricle PAVM pathophysiology"

Meet Our Team

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Andrew D. Spearman, MD

Associate Professor

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Tina Wan, PhD

Research Scientist

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Henry Rousseau, BA

Research Technician

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