UF receives grant for pediatric heart transplant research

The American Heart Association has awarded University of Florida pediatric cardiologist Kenneth O. Schowengerdt, an Established Investigator Grant worth $300,000.

Schowengerdt, who also is medical director of the pediatric heart transplant program at Shands at UF medical center, will use the funds to direct research studying noninvasive means of monitoring rejection in pediatric heart transplant recipients.

The four-year grant is intended to support full-time faculty or staff members early in their independent research careers.

“This grant will allow continued work on the part of our laboratory in the study of transplant rejection,” said Schowengerdt, an assistant professor of pediatrics in the College of Medicine’s division of pediatric cardiology. “We depend upon external funding sources for equipment, supplies and technical support, which allow the laboratory to operate.”

Peer groups select grant recipients based on their qualifications, including scientific excellence and originality of ideas, and consider the adequacy of available resources as well as the award’s potential impact on career development.