Research Overview

Dr. Breitbart's current research activities include clinical investigation in pediatric heart disease as part of the multicenter Pediatric Heart Network, and translational research in the genetic basis of congenital heart disease as part of the Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium, both under the auspices of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Dr. Breitbart is the Chair of the Publications and Presentations Committee of the Pediatric Heart Network and member of the Steering and Executive Committees. 

Research Background

Dr. Breitbart received his MD from Harvard Medical School. He completed internship and residency in Pediatrics and fellowship in Pediatric Cardiology at Boston Children's Hospital. From 1996-2001 he headed the cardiovascular drug target discovery program at Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc., in Cambridge, MA.  He returned full time to Boston Children’s in 2002 to assume a leadership role on the Cardiac Inpatient Service, supervising the care of patients with complex congenital heart disease in conjunction with teaching and research activities

Education

Undergraduate School

Haverford College
1977 Haveford PA

Medical School

Harvard Medical School
1981 Boston MA

Internship

Pediatrics Boston Children's Hospital
1982 Boston MA

Residency

Pediatrics Boston Children's Hospital
1984 Boston MA

Fellowship

Pediatric Cardiology Boston Children's Hospital
1989 Boston MA

Publications

  1. Multiphysiologic State Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling for Planning Fontan With Interrupted Inferior Vena Cava. JACC Adv. 2024 Jul; 3(7):101057. View Abstract
  2. Factors associated with morbidity, mortality, and hemodynamic failure after biventricular conversion in borderline hypoplastic left hearts. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2023 09; 166(3):933-942.e3. View Abstract
  3. Toxocara Myopericarditis and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Young Girl. Case Rep Pediatr. 2021; 2021:5526968. View Abstract
  4. Parent and Physician Understanding of Prognosis in Hospitalized Children With Advanced Heart Disease. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 01 19; 10(2):e018488. View Abstract
  5. Value of Troponin Testing for Detection of Heart Disease in Previously Healthy Children. J Am Heart Assoc. 2020 02 18; 9(4):e012897. View Abstract
  6. Delayed Presentation of Traumatic Pericardial Rupture: Diagnostic and Surgical Considerations for Treatment. Heart Surg Forum. 2018 06 14; 21(4):E254-E256. View Abstract
  7. Staged ventricular recruitment in patients with borderline ventricles and large ventricular septal defects. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 07; 156(1):254-264. View Abstract
  8. Longitudinal Outcomes of Patients With Single Ventricle After the Fontan Procedure. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2017 Jun 06; 69(22):2735-2744. View Abstract
  9. Truncus arteriosus versus tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia. Cardiol Young. 2017 May; 27(4):801-803. View Abstract
  10. De novo mutations in congenital heart disease with neurodevelopmental and other congenital anomalies. Science. 2015 Dec 04; 350(6265):1262-6. View Abstract
  11. Survival data and predictors of functional outcome an average of 15?years after the Fontan procedure: the pediatric heart network Fontan cohort. Congenit Heart Dis. 2015 Jan-Feb; 10(1):E30-42. View Abstract
  12. Transient elastography may identify Fontan patients with unfavorable hemodynamics and advanced hepatic fibrosis. Congenit Heart Dis. 2014 Sep-Oct; 9(5):438-47. View Abstract
  13. Stented bovine jugular vein graft (Melody valve) for surgical mitral valve replacement in infants and children. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014 Oct; 148(4):1443-9. View Abstract
  14. The relationship of patient medical and laboratory characteristics to changes in functional health status in children and adolescents after the Fontan procedure. Pediatr Cardiol. 2014 Apr; 35(4):632-40. View Abstract
  15. De novo mutations in histone-modifying genes in congenital heart disease. Nature. 2013 Jun 13; 498(7453):220-3. View Abstract
  16. Cardiac performance and quality of life in patients who have undergone the Fontan procedure with and without prior superior cavopulmonary connection. Cardiol Young. 2013 Jun; 23(3):335-43. View Abstract
  17. Outcome after repair of atrioventricular septal defect with tetralogy of Fallot. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012 Feb; 143(2):338-43. View Abstract
  18. Late status of Fontan patients with persistent surgical fenestration. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011 Jun 14; 57(24):2437-43. View Abstract
  19. Factors associated with serum brain natriuretic peptide levels after the Fontan procedure. Congenit Heart Dis. 2011 Jul-Aug; 6(4):313-21. View Abstract
  20. The Fontan patient: inconsistencies in medication therapy across seven pediatric heart network centers. Pediatr Cardiol. 2010 Nov; 31(8):1219-28. View Abstract
  21. Laboratory measures of exercise capacity and ventricular characteristics and function are weakly associated with functional health status after Fontan procedure. Circulation. 2010 Jan 05; 121(1):34-42. View Abstract
  22. De novo copy number variants identify new genes and loci in isolated sporadic tetralogy of Fallot. Nat Genet. 2009 Aug; 41(8):931-5. View Abstract
  23. Contemporary outcomes after the Fontan procedure: a Pediatric Heart Network multicenter study. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2008 Jul 08; 52(2):85-98. View Abstract
  24. Functional status, heart rate, and rhythm abnormalities in 521 Fontan patients 6 to 18 years of age. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008 Jul; 136(1):100-7, 107.e1. View Abstract
  25. Genomics of congenital heart disease. Willard HF, Ginsburg GS, editors., Handbook of genomic medicine. 2008; In Press. View Abstract
  26. Functional state of patients with heterotaxy syndrome following the Fontan operation. Cardiol Young. 2007 Sep; 17 Suppl 2:44-53. View Abstract
  27. Etiology, management, and outcome of pediatric pericardial effusions. Pediatr Cardiol. 2008 Jan; 29(1):90-4. View Abstract
  28. Altered blood pressure responses and normal cardiac phenotype in ACE2-null mice. J Clin Invest. 2006 Aug; 116(8):2218-25. View Abstract
  29. Synthetic Oligonucleotide Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) for the Detection of Novel Deletions in Candidate Genes Causing Tetralogy of Fallot. AHA. 2006; Submitted. View Abstract
  30. CARK, a novel cacardiac specific kinase, mediates structural remodeling and contractile function following myocardial infarction. AHA. 2006; submitted. View Abstract
  31. Pericardial Diseases. Keane JB, Lock, JE, Fyler DC, editors., Nadas’ Pediatric Cardiology. 2006; 459-466. View Abstract
  32. Tetralogy of Fallot. Keane JB, Lock, JE, Fyler DC, editors., Nadas’ Pediatric Cardiology. 2006; 559-579. View Abstract
  33. Sarcomeric genes involved in reverse remodeling of the heart during left ventricular assist device support. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2005 Jan; 24(1):73-80. View Abstract
  34. Right ventricular pseudoaneurysm after modified Norwood procedure. Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 Oct; 78(4):e72-3. View Abstract
  35. Heart block, ventricular tachycardia, and sudden death in ACE2 transgenic mice with downregulated connexins. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2003 Sep; 35(9):1043-53. View Abstract
  36. Array transcription profiling: molecular phenotyping of rodent cardiovascular models. Hoit BD, Walsh RA, editors. Cardiovascular physiology in the genetically engineered mouse. 2002; 53-61. View Abstract
  37. Atherosclerosis and cancer: common molecular pathways of disease development and progression. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2001 Dec; 947:271-92; discussion 292-3. View Abstract
  38. Atherosclerosis: a cancer of the blood vessels? Am J Clin Pathol. 2001 Dec; 116 Suppl:S97-107. View Abstract
  39. Expression of neutrophil collagenase (matrix metalloproteinase-8) in human atheroma: a novel collagenolytic pathway suggested by transcriptional profiling. Circulation. 2001 Oct 16; 104(16):1899-904. View Abstract
  40. A novel angiotensin-converting enzyme-related carboxypeptidase (ACE2) converts angiotensin I to angiotensin 1-9. Circ Res. 2000 Sep 01; 87(5):E1-9. View Abstract
  41. Conservation of sequence and expression of Xenopus and zebrafish dHAND during cardiac, branchial arch and lateral mesoderm development. Mech Dev. 2000 Jul; 95(1-2):231-7. View Abstract
  42. Differential rescue of visceral and cardiac defects in Drosophila by vertebrate tinman-related genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1998 Aug 04; 95(16):9366-71. View Abstract
  43. Zebrafish: genetic and embryological methods in a transparent vertebrate embryo. Methods Cell Biol. 1997; 52:67-82. View Abstract
  44. A new tinman-related gene, nkx2.7, anticipates the expression of nkx2.5 and nkx2.3 in zebrafish heart and pharyngeal endoderm. Dev Biol. 1996 Dec 15; 180(2):722-31. View Abstract
  45. Three zebrafish MEF2 genes delineate somitic and cardiac muscle development in wild-type and mutant embryos. Mech Dev. 1996 Oct; 59(2):205-18. View Abstract
  46. Evidence that the diabetes gene encodes the leptin receptor: identification of a mutation in the leptin receptor gene in db/db mice. Cell. 1996 Feb 09; 84(3):491-5. View Abstract
  47. Recent advances in the Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology. Ann Thorac Surg. 1995 Dec; 60(6 Suppl):S509-12. View Abstract
  48. A fourth human MEF2 transcription factor, hMEF2D, is an early marker of the myogenic lineage. Development. 1993 Aug; 118(4):1095-106. View Abstract
  49. MEF2C, a MADS/MEF2-family transcription factor expressed in a laminar distribution in cerebral cortex. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1993 Feb 15; 90(4):1546-50. View Abstract
  50. Human myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2 comprises a group of tissue-restricted MADS box transcription factors. Genes Dev. 1992 Sep; 6(9):1783-98. View Abstract
  51. Alternative splicing is an efficient mechanism for the generation of protein diversity: contractile protein genes as a model system. Adv Enzyme Regul. 1991; 31:261-86. View Abstract
  52. Tissue specific alternative splicing in the troponin T multigene family. Renkawitz R, editor. Tissue Specific Gene Expression. 1989; 199-215. View Abstract
  53. Alternative splicing of contractile protein minigene constructs is directed by cis and trans mechanisms. Mechanisms of control of gene expression. 1988; 67:265-77. View Abstract
  54. Developmentally induced, muscle-specific trans factors control the differential splicing of alternative and constitutive troponin T exons. Cell. 1987 Jun 19; 49(6):793-803. View Abstract
  55. Alternative splicing: a ubiquitous mechanism for the generation of multiple protein isoforms from single genes. Annu Rev Biochem. 1987; 56:467-95. View Abstract
  56. Promoter selection and alternative pre-mRNA splicing are used to generate complex contractile protein phenotypes. Norman AW, Vanaman TC, Means AR, editors. Calcium-binding Proteins in Health and Disease. 1987; 518-532. View Abstract
  57. Complete nucleotide sequence of the fast skeletal troponin T gene. Alternatively spliced exons exhibit unusual interspecies divergence. J Mol Biol. 1986 Apr 05; 188(3):313-24. View Abstract
  58. Alternative splicing: a common mechanism for the generation of contractile protein diversity from single genes. Molecular biology of muscle development. 1986; 29:387-410. View Abstract
  59. Intricate combinatorial patterns of exon splicing generate multiple regulated troponin T isoforms from a single gene. Cell. 1985 May; 41(1):67-82. View Abstract
  60. Conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine in the anterior pituitary gland and the influence of this process on thyroid status. Horm Metab Res Suppl. 1984; 14:79-85. View Abstract
  61. Comparison of thyroxine and 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine metabolism in rat kidney and liver homogenates. Metabolism. 1979 Nov; 28(11):1139-46. View Abstract

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