Mitchell, Michael E., M.D.
Assistant Professor
Specialization: Congenital Heart Disease
Tel: (414) 266-2491 Dr. Mitchell's CV
Email:
Our
laboratory’s major thematic areas:
1.Development of the Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)
Tissue Repository
Although
CHD is one of the leading causes of mortality in infants, the etiology of
congenital heart disease is poorly understood.Data suggest that the disease is heterogeneous and complex, with both
genetic and environmental risk factors.The
congenital heart disease tissue repository represents a unique opportunity to
investigate the etiology of CHD.We are
seeking subjects willing to contribute blood and tissue (obtained as surgical
discards) that are necessary for studies that can help in our understanding of
CHD.These specimens will be used to
look for genetic, genomic, and molecular changes in patients with CHD.
Specifically, we:
1.Look for genetic risk factors (i.e. mutations, single
nucleotide polymorphisms SNPs, small and large
chromosomal alterations) of CHD, including inherited as well as somatic events.
2.Look for differential gene expression or alternative
splicing patterns in CHD patients.
3.Look for molecular changes in tissue from CHD
patients, including epigenetic modifications (i.e. methylation
patterns) and exogenous agents (i.e. evidence for infectious or chemical
agents).
Our long term goals are to:
1.Investigate the relationship between genotype and clinical
variability and outcomes.
2.Improve our understanding of the etiology of CHD with
the hope of reducing risk for and improving management strategies for patients
with CHD.
2.Clinical
outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease.We are interested in both identifying predictors of
clinical outcomes in CHD, and understanding mechanisms of healing and
plasticity following surgical repair.
3.Development
of a non-invasive diagnostic test for fetal genetic and chromosomal abnormalities.An
increasing number of fetal medical conditions can be successfully managed
during the neonatal period if an early diagnosis is made.Because of the inadequate sensitivity and
specificity of currently available non-invasive tools, amniocentesis and
chorionic villus sampling (CVS), both invasive
procedures, remain the standard for the definitive detection of fetal genetic
and chromosomal abnormalities.Both of
these procedures carry health risk for the developing fetus.We are developing a non-invasive approach
using maternal serum to identify fetal genetic abnormalities. With its partner
hospitals (Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital), the MCW is
among a handful of centers in the world that are uniquely positioned to deliver
the care and aggressively treat conditions diagnosed at the prenatal stage
effectively, both through fetal and neonatal
interventions.
