In 2010, inspired by their daughter Gabrielle’s journey with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), Todd and Karen Wanek made a bold commitment to change what was possible for people born with congenital heart disease.
That commitment began with an investment in groundbreaking stem cell research and a vision to do more than manage CHD: to develop new solutions that could fundamentally change its future. Over the next decade, that work helped build the scientific foundation, technology, and expertise needed to move promising discoveries toward patients.
In 2020, HeartWorks was created to take that vision further bringing research out of the lab and developing the treatments, technologies, and products needed for today’s generation.
Today, HeartWorks is a nonprofit medical research organization dedicated to developing and delivering breakthrough therapies and technologies to cure congenital heart disease.
HeartWorks exists to change what’s possible and how fast it happens.
To spark bold innovation that transforms our broken healthcare system into one that truly heals.
HeartWorks develops and delivers breakthrough therapies for congenital heart disease.
A future where people with CHD thrive with a focus on longevity, not just temporary solutions.
We are a dedicated team singularly focused on congenital heart disease (CHD). Every day (since 2010!) we work to strengthen hearts, expand treatment options, and improve outcomes for the 1 in 100 families affected by CHD.
Our team brings together diverse expertise from scientific discovery and clinical innovation to patient engagement and community leadership. Through this collaborative team of teams approach, HeartWorks unites heart families, clinicians, researchers, donors, and partners around one shared commitment: advancing solutions for congenital heart disease.
Together, we are building a new model for CHD care by developing breakthrough therapies, preparing care teams, and ensuring innovation reaches the families who need it most.
