ABSTRACT This proposal leverages strengths across the University of Michigan (UM) Congenital Heart Center and broad UM campus to support continued participation as a PHN Clinical Research Center, collaborating with the PHN to advance innovative science in pediatric and congenital heart disease (CHD). The UM team has a long- standing track record of PHN contributions including: serving as a top enroller for many PHN studies; leading the SVR, SVR III, FUEL-FALD, and COMPASS trials; directing the PHN biorepository; leading PHN data integration efforts (iCARD Collaborative); and serving as active mentors, including two current PHN DEI Scholars. Through this proposal, UM aims to foster large-scale, collaborative, and efficient PHN investigations that create new knowledge and transform care. These efforts are supported by UM’s high clinical volumes, comprehensive data warehouse, and dedicated research core (MCHORD) which has extensive experience fostering multi-center investigation. Further, UM’s national leadership of Cardiac Networks United brings together multiple networks spanning traditional data silos and >2/3 of US heart centers to foster novel and collaborative investigation, support efficient research designs such as the “trial within a registry” approach being utilized for the PHN COMPASS trial, and to foster translation of new findings to the bedside-for example a recent project that reduced cardiac arrest rates across the country. Second, UM aims to advance investigation of innovative and cross-disciplinary therapies across the field. This work is supported by UM’s novel clinical programs, experience fostering collaboration with other disciplines to address complex research questions (such as the collaboration between cardiologists and hepatologists UM led for the PHN FUEL-FALD study), and ability to bring forward unique expertise spanning the broad UM campus. For example, the study proposed in this application integrates clinical efforts pioneered by the heart center’s novel mental health program (M-COPE), resources to support community engagement from the UM CTSA, and expertise in virtual care and digital technologies from the UM Center for Healthcare Communication and Research, to study an intervention to improve mental health for patients with CHD. Finally, UM aims to enhance diverse perspectives and reduce inequities, making advances widely available to all. Resources to address this critical need include a dedicated UM Congenital Heart Center DEI Committee, outreach locations (14+) and virtual capabilities across the state and region to increase diversity and access to research, leadership of numerous research projects geared toward understanding and mitigating inequities in our field, efforts related to the Cardiac Networks United Health Equity Module and DeGAUSS tool which support standardized collection of SES data across sites, and a proposed novel initiative within this application to support student interns in DEI-related CHD research. The UM team looks forward to applying these resources and expertise as a PHN Clinical Research Center to continue to advance treatment and outcomes in pediatric and congenital cardiac disease.

NARRATIVE This proposal leverages strengths across the University of Michigan to support the Congenital Heart Center as a productive collaborator, leader, and innovator in advancing Pediatric Heart Network efforts toward improving care and outcomes of pediatric and congenital cardiovascular disease.