Presenter:
Dr. Robert Jankov
Staff Neonatologist and Senior Scientist, Hospital for Sick Children,
Toronto Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Physiology,
University of Toronto

Synopsis:
Chronic pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is commonly diagnosed in newborns and infants with developmental lung disorders, heralding a much higher risk of severe morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, in contrast to adults and older children, contemporary therapies for chronic PHT have not led to improved survival in neonates and infants and their utility in this population is unclear. Until more effective therapies are developed, the prognosis for this condition will remain poor.  Evidence for a central role for up-regulated smooth muscle RhoA/Rho-kinase (ROCK) signalling in the pathogenesis of experimental chronic neonatal PHT will be summarized and potentially translatable strategies for attenuating ROCK activity and its downstream effects will be described.