The Izak Szymczak Fund for Heart Research has been established to raise funds for congenital heart defect (CHD) research, and which allows our family to direct research funds to peer-reviewed research projects of our choice, as presented by The Children’s Heart Foundation.

The Children's Heart Foundation is issuing an RFA for the 2022-2023 research cycle, focusing on the evaluation and management of children with single ventricle heart defects. Supported by generous funding from the Szymczak family and their many supporters, The Szymczak Family Research Award will support late translational and clinical research projects focusing on improving lifespan and quality of life for patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and other single ventricle heart defects. Proposals that are of particular interest include but are not limited to those focusing on lymphatic disorders including PLE, biventricular repairs in patients with borderline left hearts, and regenerative stem cell therapies.

CHDs are the most commonly-occurring birth defect, affecting approximately 1 in 110 children born in the U.S. The Children’s Heart Foundation is the leading organization solely dedicated to funding critical CHD research, and funded research has dramatically increased survival, longevity, and quality of life for Heart Warriors. Warriors like Izak will also face continued health needs and challenges as they grow, which can be addressed by research. Please join us in supporting Izak and so many other Heart Warriors by funding critical CHD research.

Please enjoy this recording to learn more about Izak, the challenges he has faced and will continue to face, and why CHD research funding is so important for him and every other Heart Warrior.