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fetal heart photos

The Division of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at University of Maryland has an outstanding record of excellence in clinical investigation and translational research.

The mission of the research in our department is to provide state-of-the-art clinical research facilities and expertise to faculty who conduct human studies. The goal of the unit is to create a "value-added" service to the Maternal and Children's clinical research community in the following ways:

  • Offer expert consultation and implementation.
  • Offer basic science research that can be translated to maternal and fetal medicine.
  • Improve access and flexibility of clinical research services and facilities to meet study and patient needs.

Researchers in the division of Maternal Fetal Medicine are discovering ways to refine the diagnosis of congenital heart defects using different imaging modalities and discovering new biological biomarkers in maternal blood.

Clinical Fetal Heart Research

The Center for Advanced Fetal Care’s Fetal Heart Program has been actively involved in fetal heart research for the last thirteen years. Our team has been developing new imaging techniques in an effort to detect heart abnormalities in the first trimester. Our research is centered on growth patterns and brain development in different congenital heart defects. Here is some of the ongoing research we have participated in:

Ongoing Research

  • The role of noninvasive prenatal testing in congenital heart defects
  • First trimester fetal heart examination in patients with obesity
  • Placental development and congenital heart defects
  • Growth patterns and brain development in different congenital heart defects
  • Potential role of maternal serum biochemical markers for fetal congenital heart defects
  • HLHS clinical trial

Published Articles

  1. Applicability of Standardized Early Fetal Heart Examination in the Obese Population. Asoglu MR, Yao R, Seger L, Turan OM, Turan S.J Ultrasound Med. 2019; 38(5):1269-1277. doi: 10.1002/jum.14807.
  2. Exposure of the developing heart to diabetic environment and early cardiac assessment: A review. Asoglu MR, Gabbay-Benziv R, Turan OM, Turan S. Echocardiography. 2018 (2):244-257. doi: 10.1111/echo.13811 
  3. Middle cerebral artery pulsatility index as a possible predictive marker for neonatal death in fetuses with tricuspid valve malformations. Asoglu MR, Turan OM, Seger L, Kochan M, Turan S , Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2019 4. doi: 10.1002/uog.20862.
  4. Yield rate of chromosomal microarray analysis in fetuses with congenital heart defects.Turan S, Asoglu MR, Gabbay-Benziv R, Doyle L, Harman C, Turan OM.
    Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2018; 221:172-176. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2017.12.019
  5. The benefits of first-trimester fetal heart evaluation. Turan S. MDedge | ObGyn. 2019.
  6. Genetic assessment for CHD: Case-specific, stepwise. Turan S. MDedge | ObGyn, 2019.

For additional information, or to make an appointment, please contact the Center for Advanced Fetal Care at 410-328-3865.

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