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
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:
- What is the pathologic progression of pulmonary vascular remodeling in single ventricle PAMVs?
- How do hepatic vein blood and blood flow regulate normal pulmonary vascular homeostasis?
- What are the critical factors in hepatic vein blood that prevent PAVMs? In other words, what is hepatic factor?
- How do single ventricle PAVMs compare to heritable forms of PAVMs?
Meet Our Team
Andrew Spearman, MD
Principal Investigator
Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology
Medical College of Wisconsin
Children’s Wisconsin | Herma Heart Institute
aspearman@mcw.edu
MCW Faculty Profile
MCW Faculty Collaboration Database Profile
Children’s Wisconsin Physician Profile
Tina Wan, PhD
Research Scientist
Henry Rousseau, BA
Research Technician