Benjamin Frank, MD

Professional Titles

• Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Research Interests

My research interests center on improving care for children with pulmonary hypertension and abnormal pulmonary vascular development in its many forms, including in association with congenital heart disease and developmental lung disease. We are using a combined cardiac imaging and metabolomics approach to identify new treatment targets, improve prognostic accuracy, and personalize care for our patients.

Publications

• Frank BS, Schäfer M, Grenolds A, Ivy DD, Abman SH, Darst JR. Acute Vasoreactivity Testing during Cardiac Catheterization of Neonates with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension. J Pediatr. 2019 May;208:127-133. PubMed PMID: 30871795
• Frank BS, Runciman M, Manning WA, Ivy DD, Abman SH, Howley L. Pulmonary Hypertension Secondary to Scurvy in a Developmentally Typical Child. J Pediatr. 2019 May;208:291-291.e2. PubMed PMID: 30738657
• Frank BS, Urban TT, Lewis K, Tong S, Cassidy C, Mitchell MB, Nichols CS, Davidson JA. Circulating biomarkers of left ventricular hypertrophy in pediatric coarctation of the aorta. Congenit Heart Dis. 2019 May;14(3):446-453. PubMed PMID: 30650250
• Schäfer M, Frank BS, Ivy DD, Wilson N, Morgan GJ, Barker AJ, Browne LP, Mitchell MB, Truong U. Close look at the Potts shunt flow hemodynamics in a patient with severe pulmonary hypertension: 4D-flow MRI evaluation. J Magn Reson Imaging. 2019 Jun;49(6):1800-1802. PubMed PMID: 30451346
• Davidson JA, Urban TT, Tong S, Maddux A, Hill G, Frank BS, Watson JD, Jaggers J, Simões EAF, Wischmeyer P. Alkaline Phosphatase Activity and Endotoxemia After Infant Cardiothoracic Surgery. Shock. 2019 Mar;51(3):328-336. PubMed PMID: 29664834
• Ivy D, Frank BS. Update on pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2020 Oct 29. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33136663
• Frank BS, Khailova L, Silveira L, Mitchell MB, Morgan GJ, Hsieh EWY, DiMaria MV, Twite M, Klawitter J, Davidson JA. Proteomic profiling identifies key differences between inter-stage infants with single ventricle heart disease and healthy controls. Transl Res. 2020 Oct 9. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 33045409
• Sabapathy D, Klawitter J, Silveira L, Khailova L, Mitchell MB, Morgan GJ, DiMaria MV, Twite M, Frank BS, Davidson JA. Activation of kynurenine pathway of tryptophan metabolism after infant cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass: a prospective cohort study. Metabolomics. 2020 Sep 5;16(9):93. PubMed PMID: 32889608
• Frank BS, Ivy DD. Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2020 Oct;67(5):903-921. PubMed PMID: 32888689
• Cooney SJ, Klawitter J, Khailova L, Robison J, Jaggers J, Ing RJ, Lawson S, Frank BS, Lujan SO, Davidson JA. Regional lung metabolic profile in a piglet model of cardiopulmonary bypass with circulatory arrest. Metabolomics. 2021 Sep 22;17(10):89. PubMed PMID: 34553313
• Schäfer M, Frank BS, Jacobsen R, Rausch CM, Mitchell MB, Jaggers J, Stone ML, Morgan GJ, Browne LP, Barker AJ, Hunter KS, Ivy DD, Younoszai A, Di Maria MV. Patients with Fontan circulation have abnormal aortic wave propagation patterns: A wave intensity analysis study. Int J Cardiol. 2020 Aug 25. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 32853667
• Schäfer M, Ivy DD, Nguyen K, Boncella K, Frank BS, Morgan GJ, Miller-Reed K, Truong U, Colvin K, Yeager ME. Metalloproteinases and their inhibitors are associated with pulmonary arterial stiffness and ventricular function in pediatric pulmonary hypertension. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2021 Jul 1;321(1):H242-H252. PubMed PMID: 34085841
• Oganesyan A, Hoffner-Heinike A, Barker AJ, Frank BS, Ivy DD, Hunter KS, Mitchell MB, Humphries SM, Fenster BE, Schäfer M. Abnormal pulmonary flow is associated with impaired right ventricular coupling in patients with COPD. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2021 Oct;37(10):3039-3048. PubMed PMID: 34021434
• Schäfer M, Bjornstad P, Frank BS, Baumgartner A, Truong U, Enge D, von Alvensleben JC, Mitchell MB, Ivy DD, Barker AJ, Reusch JEB, Nadeau KJ. Frequency of Reduced Left Ventricular Contractile Efficiency and Discoordinated Myocardial Relaxation in Patients Aged 16 to 21 Years With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (from the Emerald Study). Am J Cardiol. 2020 Aug 1;128:45-53. PubMed PMID: 32650923
• Frank BS, Schafer M, Thomas TM, Haxel C, Ivy DD, Jone PN. Right Atrial Conduit Phase Emptying Predicts Risk of Adverse Events in Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. J Am Soc Echocardiogr. 2020 Aug;33(8):1006-1013. PubMed PMID: 32336608
• Schäfer M, Frank BS, Humphries SM, Hunter KS, Carmody KL, Jacobsen R, Mitchell MB, Jaggers J, Stone ML, Morgan GJ, Barker AJ, Browne LP, Ivy DD, Younoszai A, Di Maria MV. Flow profile characteristics in Fontan circulation are associated with the single ventricle dilation and function: principal component analysis study. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 May 1;318(5):H1032-H1040. PubMed PMID: 32167782
• Davidson JA, Frank BS, Urban TT, Twite M, Jaggers J, Khailova L, Klawitter J. Serum metabolic profile of postoperative acute kidney injury following infant cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Pediatr Nephrol. 2021 Oct;36(10):3259-3269. PubMed PMID: 33954809
• Schäfer M, Frank BS, Ivy DD, Abman SH, Stenmark KR, Mitchell MB, Browne LP, Barker AJ, Hunter KS, Kheyfets V, Miller-Reed K, Ing R, Morgan GJ, Truong U. Short-Term Effects of Inhaled Nitric Oxide on Right Ventricular Flow Hemodynamics by 4-Dimensional-Flow Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Children With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. J Am Heart Assoc. 2021 Apr 20;10(8):e020548. PubMed PMID: 33821682
• Frank BS, Schäfer M, Thomas TM, Ivy DD, Jone PN. Longitudinal assessment of right atrial conduit fraction provides additional insight to predict adverse events in pediatric pulmonary hypertension. Int J Cardiol. 2021 Apr 15;329:242-245. PubMed PMID: 33400972
• Frank BS, Schäfer M, Douwes JM, Ivy DD, Abman SH, Davidson JA, Burzlaff S, Mitchell MB, Morgan GJ, Browne LP, Barker AJ, Truong U, von Alvensleben JC. Novel measures of left ventricular electromechanical discoordination predict clinical outcomes in children with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2020 Feb 1;318(2):H401-H412. PubMed PMID: 31858817
• Evan Pagano, Benjamin Frank, James Jaggers, et al, “Alterations in Metabolites Associated with Hypoxemia in Neonates and Infants with Congenital Heart Disease” Congenital Heart Disease, Vol 15 (4), 2020; 251-265
• Ivy D, Frank BS. Update on pediatric pulmonary arterial hypertension. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2021 Jan;36(1):67-79. PubMed PMID: 33136663
• Frank BS, Khailova L, Silveira L, Mitchell MB, Morgan GJ, Hsieh EWY, DiMaria MV, Twite M, Klawitter J, Davidson JA. Proteomic profiling identifies key differences between inter-stage infants with single ventricle heart disease and healthy controls. Transl Res. 2021 Mar;229:24-37. PubMed PMID: 33045409
• Schäfer M, Frank BS, Jacobsen R, Rausch CM, Mitchell MB, Jaggers J, Stone ML, Morgan GJ, Browne LP, Barker AJ, Hunter KS, Ivy DD, Younoszai A, Di Maria MV. Patients with Fontan circulation have abnormal aortic wave propagation patterns: A wave intensity analysis study. Int J Cardiol. 2021 Jan 1;322:158-167. PubMed PMID: 32853667
• Frank B.S., Rashid A., Ivy D. (2020) Chronic Pulmonary Hypertension. In: Munoz R., Morell V., da Cruz E., Vetterly C., da Silva J. (eds) Critical Care of Children with Heart Disease. Springer, Cham
• Bloom JL, Frank B, Weinman JP, Galambos C, O'Leary ST, Liptzin DR, Fuhlbrigge RC. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in children with trisomy 21. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J. 2021 Jul 17;19(1):114. PubMed PMID: 34273981
• Frank BS, Schafer M, Thomas TM, Ivy DD, Jone PN, “Longitudinal Assessment of Right Atrial Conduit Fraction Provides Additional Insight to Predict Adverse Events in Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension” American Society of Echocardiography Scientific Sessions, Virtual Experience, August, 2020.
• Frank BS, Ivy DD. Pediatric Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2020 Oct;67(5):903-921. PubMed PMID: 32888689
• Davidson JA, Robison J, Khailova L, Frank BS, Jaggers J, Ing RJ, Lawson S, Iguidbashian J, Ali E, Treece A, Soranno DE, Osorio-Lujan S, Klawitter J. Metabolomic profiling demonstrates evidence for kidney and urine metabolic dysregulation in a piglet model of cardiac surgery-induced acute kidney injury. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2022 Jul 1;323(1):F20-F32. PubMed PMID: 35532069
• Frank BS, Khailova L, Silveira L, Mitchell MB, Morgan GJ, DiMaria MV, Davidson JA. Increased Circulating Endothelin 1 Is Associated With Postoperative Hypoxemia in Infants With Single-Ventricle Heart Disease Undergoing Superior Cavopulmonary Anastomosis. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Mar 15;11(6):e024007. PubMed PMID: 35243904
• Schäfer M, Frank BS, Ivy DD, Mitchell MB, Collins KK, Jone PN, von Alvensleben JC. Repolarization Dispersion Is Associated With Diastolic Electromechanical Discoordination in Children With Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. J Am Heart Assoc. 2022 Mar 15;11(6):e024787. PubMed PMID: 35229614
• Schäfer M, Frank BS, Grady RM, Eghtesady P, Mitchell MB, Jaggers J, Ivy DD. Monitoring and evaluation of the surgical Potts shunt physiology using 4-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2022 Aug;164(2):331-341. PubMed PMID: 34872760
• Issapour A, Frank B, Crook S, Hite MD, Dorn ML, Rosenzweig EB, Ivy DD, Krishnan US. Safety and tolerability of combination therapy with ambrisentan and tadalafil for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension in children: Real-world experience. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2022 Mar;57(3):724-733. PubMed PMID: 34921523
• Frank BS, Nandy D, Khailova L, Mitchell MB, Morgan GJ, Twite M, DiMaria MV, Davidson JA. Circulating biomarkers of extracellular matrix dysregulation are associated with adverse post-stage 2 outcomes in infants with single ventricle heart disease. Sci Rep. 2023 Sep 28;13(1):16318. PubMed PMID: 37770592
• Ali EA, Syed A, Khailova L, Iguidbashian JP, Suarez-Pierre A, Klawitter J, Stone M, Mancuso CA, Frank BS, Davidson JA. Novel Biomarkers of Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Neonates Undergoing Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: A Pilot Cohort Study. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Aug;12(15):e030712. PubMed PMID: 37489765
• Quinn LA, Gilley SP, Ta AD, Frank BS, Foley CB, Moore JM. Case report: Pulmonary hypertensive crisis leading to cardiac arrest during endoscopic evaluation in a 6-year-old boy with autism, severe malnutrition, and undiagnosed scurvy. Front Pediatr. 2022;10:1008507. PubMed PMID: 36389378
• Schäfer M, Mitchell MB, Frank BS, Barker AJ, Stone ML, Jaggers J, von Alvensleben JC, Hunter KS, Friesen RM, Ivy DD, Jacobsen R, Di Maria MV. Myocardial strain-curve deformation patterns after Fontan operation. Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 24;13(1):11912. PubMed PMID: 37488167
• Ta HT, Critser PJ, Schäfer M, Ollberding NJ, Taylor MD, Di Maria MV, Hirsch R, Ivy DD, Frank BS. Ventricular global function index is associated with clinical outcomes in pediatric pulmonary hypertension. J Cardiovasc Magn Reson. 2023 Jul 3;25(1):39. PubMed PMID: 37400886
• Evers PD, Quinn P, Critser PJ, Frank BS, Alnoor M, Armsby LB. Prognostic value of longitudinal vasoreactivity in pediatric pulmonary hypertension. Pulm Circ. 2022 Oct;12(4):e12152. PubMed PMID: 36381291
• Subhedar NV, Frank B, Abman SH. Better Survival with Less Morbidity in Extremely Preterm Infants: Attacking the Heart of the Matter. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023 Aug 1;208(3):228-229. PubMed PMID: 37348107
• Stone ML, Schäfer M, von Alvensleben JC, Frank BS, Campbell DN, Mitchell MB, Jaggers J. Left Ventricular Dysfunction Following the Ross-Konno Reconstruction is Independent of the Operation. Pediatr Cardiol. 2022 Nov 12. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 36370189
• Le LS, Kinsella JP, Gien J, Frank BS. Failure to Normalize Biventricular Function Is Associated with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Use in Neonates with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. J Pediatr. 2023 Sep;260:113490. PubMed PMID: 37201678
• O'Callaghan B, Zablah JE, Weinman JP, Englund EK, Morgan GJ, Ivy DD, Frank BS, Mong DA, Malone LJ, Browne LP. Computed tomographic parenchymal lung findings in premature infants with pulmonary vein stenosis. Pediatr Radiol. 2023 Aug;53(9):1874-1884. PubMed PMID: 37106091
• Frank BS, Khailova L, Dekermanjian J, Mitchell MB, Morgan GJ, Twite M, Christians U, DiMaria MV, Klawitter J, Davidson JA. Interstage Single Ventricle Heart Disease Infants Show Dysregulation in Multiple Metabolic Pathways: Targeted Metabolomics Analysis. JACC Adv. 2023 Jan;2(1). PubMed PMID: 36875009
• Maia PD, Gien J, Kinsella JP, Zablah J, Morgan G, Ivy DD, Abman SH, Frank BS. Hemodynamic Characterization of Neonates With Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension by Cardiac Catheterization. J Pediatr. 2023 Apr;255:230-235.e2. PubMed PMID: 36463937
• Stone ML, Schäfer M, von Alvensleben JC, Frank BS, Campbell DN, Mitchell MB, Jaggers J. Left Ventricular Dysfunction Following the Ross-Konno Reconstruction is Independent of the Operation. Pediatr Cardiol. 2023 Feb;44(2):463-471. PubMed PMID: 36370189
• Simpkin CT, McElroy BJ, Morgan GJ, Dunbar Ivy D, Burkett DA, Twite MD, Frank BS. Impact of general anesthesia on the echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function in pediatric patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pulm Circ. 2024 Jul;14(3):e12435. PubMed PMID: 39308941
• Thomson LM, Niemiec S, Mancuso CA, Khailova L, Ali E, Syed A, Wolfe KR, Zakrzewski J, Stone M, Hyslop R, Frank BS, Davidson JA. Disruption of the Circulating Proteome in Neonates Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Following Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: A Nested Case-Control Study. J Pediatr. 2024 Sep 19;276:114322. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 39306320
• Wolfe KR, Thomson LM, Niemiec S, Mancuso CA, Khailova L, Frank BS, Davidson JA. Early Circulating Biomarkers of Language Development in Single Ventricle Heart Disease. JAMA Pediatr. 2024 Oct 1;178(10):1072-1074. PubMed PMID: 39102258
• Frank BS, Gentzler ER, Avitabile CM, Miller-Reed K, Pan Z, Rosenzweig EB, Ivy DD, Krishnan US. Safety and Effectiveness of Selexipag in Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study. J Pediatr. 2024 Aug 2;275:114221. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 39097266
• Laudenschlager S, Schofield S, Drysdale N, Stone M, Romanowicz J, Frank B, DiMaria M, Kheyfets VO, Hedjazi-Moghari M. Estimation of pulmonary vascular resistance for Glenn physiology. PLoS One. 2024;19(7):e0307890. PubMed PMID: 39058711
• Ivy DD, Frank BS. Treat and Repair for Congenital Heart Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension: Not a Panacea. JACC Adv. 2024 Apr;3(4):100891. PubMed PMID: 38939683
• Frank BS. ECI biocommentary: Benjamin Frank. Pediatr Res. 2024 Jul;96(2):273. PubMed PMID: 38849488
• Houska N, Albertz M, Frank B, Ing RJ. 2024 Guidelines for Performing a Comprehensive Pediatric Transthoracic Echocardiogram: Recommendations From the American Society of Echocardiography. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2024 Aug;38(8):1627-1629. PubMed PMID: 38834446
• Frank BS, Niemiec S, Khailova L, Mancuso CA, Lehmann T, Mitchell MB, Morgan GJ, Twite M, DiMaria MV, Klawitter J, Davidson JA. Arginine-NO metabolites are associated with morbidity in single ventricle infants undergoing stage 2 palliation. Pediatr Res. 2024 Jul;96(2):347-355. PubMed PMID: 38565916
• Davidson JA, Thomson LM, Frank BS. Invited Commentary: Omics Approaches to Mechanistic, Biomarker, and Therapeutic Development for Right Ventricular Failure in Congenital Right-Sided Obstructive Lesions: A Brave New World?. World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg. 2024 Mar;15(2):174-176. PubMed PMID: 38478369
• Thomson LM, Mancuso CA, Wolfe KR, Khailova L, Niemiec S, Ali E, DiMaria M, Mitchell M, Twite M, Morgan G, Frank BS, Davidson JA. The proteomic fingerprint in infants with single ventricle heart disease in the interstage period: evidence of chronic inflammation and widespread activation of biological networks. Front Pediatr. 2023;11:1308700. PubMed PMID: 38143535
• Iguidbashian J, Malone LJ, Browne LP, Nguyen M, Frank B, Schafer M, Campbell DN, Mitchell MB, Jaggers J, Stone ML. Regional Arch Measurements Differ Between Imaging Modalities in Infants With Aortic Coarctation. Ann Thorac Surg. 2024 Jul;118(1):209-215. PubMed PMID: 38072352

Practice Locations

Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
13123 East 16th Ave
Aurora, CO 80045
720-777-1234

Hospital Affiliation

• Children's Hospital Colorado

Specialty Information

Specialties

• Pediatric Cardiology, Board Certification (2018)