Research Funding
Theresa R. Grover, MD
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and The Children’s Hospital Perinatal Research Facility
“Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension”
July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2009
Role of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension
Newborn infants can develop pulmonary hypertension at birth due to many conditions, including pneumonia, infection, birth defects such as underdeveloped lungs, and congenital heart defects. Pulmonary hypertension at birth (or Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension of the Newborn, PPHN) usually improves over time, but infants can be critically ill during that time. In babies with PPHN, certain proteins found in the lung that guide blood vessel formation and function may not be produced normally. We are studying these proteins (VEGF, HIFs), and trying to determine whether treating the lung with these proteins at birth could improve the severity of pulmonary hypertension and reduce mortality rates in these infants. Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) has been a very useful therapy for this condition, but not all babies respond to NO, so it is critically important that we continue to look for new treatments for this disease.
Current Position
Associate Professor
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology
Denver, CO
July 2006- present
Previous Position
Assistant Professor
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center
Department of Pediatrics, Section of Neonatology
Denver, CO
July 2000- June 2006
Education
Butler University
Indianapolis, Indiana
August 1985 – May 1989
B.S. Degree in Biological Sciences
University of Louisville
School of Medicine
Louisville, Kentucky
August 1989- May 1993
M.D. Degree
Training
Internship in Pediatrics
University of Colorado
Health Sciences Center
Denver, Colorado
July 1993- June 1994
Residency in Pediatrics
University of Colorado
Health Sciences Center
Denver, Colorado
July 1994- June 1996
Fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
University of Colorado
Health Sciences Center
Denver, Colorado
July 1997- June 2000
Memberships
- Western Society for Pediatric Research, 2000
- American Physiological Society, 2002
- American Academy of Pediatrics, Fellow, 2002
- AAP Section on Perinatal Pediatrics, 2002
- Society for Pediatric Research, 2004
- Pulmonary Hypertension Clinicians and Researchers, 2006
Board Certification
Subspecialty Certification in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
American Board of Pediatrics, November, 2001
Certification in General Pediatrics
American Board of Pediatrics, January 1998
Recertified, 2004
International Medical Experience
- Provided Rural Health Camp in Langtang Himalayan Region
of Nepal, December, 1996
- Provided General Pediatric Care in the Friend’s Club Clinic
in Kathmandu, Nepal, December, 1996
- Worked with Nadyia Group to promote development of
primary care in Lviv, Ukraine, October, 1996
Other Published Articles
- Pulmonary Vascular Effects of Nitric Oxide-cGMP Augmentation in a Model of Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension in Fetal and Neonatal Sheep. Philippe Deruelle, Theresa R. Grover, Steven H. Abman. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 289: L798-L806, Oct. 2005.
- Recombinant Human VEGF Treatment Enhances Alvoelarization after Hyperoxic Lung Injury in Neonatal Rats. Anette Kunig, Vivek Balasubramaniam, Neil Markham, Danielle Morgan, Greg Montgomery, Theresa Grover, Steven Abman. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 289: L529- L535, Oct. 2005.
- rhVEGF Treatment Preserves Pulmonary Vascular Reactivity and Structure in an Experimental Model of Pulmonary Hypertension in Fetal Sheep. Theresa R. Grover, Thomas A. Parker, Neil E. Markham, Steven H. Abman. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 289(2): L315-21, April 2005.
- Inhibition of 20-HETE Abolishes the Myogenic Response During NOS Antagonism in the Ovine Fetal Pulmonary Circulation. Thomas A. Parker, Theresa R. Grover, John P. Kinsella, John R. Flack, Steven H. Abman. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 289(2):L261-7, April 2005.
- Pulmonary Hypertension Impairs Alveolarization and Reduces Lung Growth in the Ovine Fetus. Theresa R Grover, Thomas A Parker, Vivek Balasubramaniam, Neil E Markham, Steven H Abman. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 288, L648-L654, 2005.
- Effects of BAY 41-2272, a soluble guanylate cyclase activator, on Pulmonary Vascular Reactivity in the Ovine Fetus. Philippe Deruelle, Theresa R Grover, Laurent Storme, Steven H Abman. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 288, L727-L733, 2005.
- Intrauterine Hypertension Decreases Lung VEGF Expression and VEGF Inhibition Causes Pulmonary Hypertension in the Ovine Fetus. Theresa R. Grover, Thomas A. Parker, Jeanne P. Zenge, Neil E. Markham, John P. Kinsella, Steven H. Abman Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 284: L508-L517, 2003.
- Role of Platelet Derived Growth Factor in Vascular Remodeling during Pulmonary Hypertension in the Ovine Fetus. Vivek Balasubramaniam, Timothy D. Le Cras, D. Dunbar Ivy, Theresa R. Grover, John P. Kinsella, Steven H. Abman. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 284: L826-L833, 2003.
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Causes Pulmonary Vasodilation through Activation of the PI3-kinase- Nitric Oxide Pathway in the Late Gestation Ovine Fetus. Theresa R. Grover, Jeanne P. Zenge, Thomas A. Parker, Steven H. Abman. Pediatric Research, 52: 907-912, 2002.
- Case Report: Infantile hemangioendothelioma. Jeanne P. Zenge, Laura Fenton, Mark A. Lovell, Theresa R. Grover. Curr Opin Pediatr, 14: 99-102, 2002.
- Effects of Chronic Estrogen Receptor Blockade on the Ovine Perinatal Pulmonary Circulation. Thomas A. Parker, Sam Afshar, John P. Kinsella, Theresa R. Grover, Mark Geraci, Philip W. Shaul, Steven H. Abman. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol.; 281(3): H1005-14, 2001
- Nitric Oxide and Prostaglandin Interactions During Hemodynamic Stress in the Fetal Ovine Pulmonary Circulation. Jeanne P. Zenge, Robyn L. Rairigh, Theresa R. Grover, Laurent Storme, Thomas A. Parker, Steven H. Abman. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, 281: L1157-L1163, 2001.
- Inhaled Carbon Monoxide Does Not Cause Pulmonary Vasodilation in the Late Gestation Ovine Fetus. Theresa R. Grover, Robyn L. Rairigh, Jeanne P. Zenge, Steven H. Abman, John P. Kinsella. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 278: L779- L784, 2000.
- Repetitive Prenatal Glucocorticoids Increase Lung Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Ovine Fetuses Delivered at Term. Theresa R. Grover, Kate L. Ackerman, Timothy D. Le Cras, Alan H. Jobe, Steven H. Abman. Pediatric Research, 48: 75-83, July 2000.
- Estradiol Improves Pulmonary Hemodynamics and Vascular Remodeling in Perinatal Pulmonary Hypertension. Thomas A. Parker, Dunbar D. Ivy, Henry L. Galan, Theresa R. Grover, John P. Kinsella, Steven H. Abman. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol.; 278(2): L374-81, 2000.
