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To foster development, production and marketing of the next generation of medical devices designed to meet growing children’s unique needs, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) awarded $5 million to the National Capital Consortium for Pediatric Device Innovation (NCC-PDI), led by Children’s National Health System and University of Maryland, College Park. 

Six companies presenting innovative medical devices that address significant unmet needs in pediatric healthcare were recently awarded a total of $150,000 in grants in Philadelphia, Penn. at the Sixth Annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposium organized by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Health System. 

A head-to-head trial comparing the decades-old steroid, prednisone, and a promising new steroid, vamorolone, finds both act on the same key set of genetic pathways involved in controlling inflammation, indicates a new study led by Children’s National Health System researchers. However, the study suggests the new investigational steroid doesn’t activate several additional pathways involved in prednisone’s bevy of undesirable side effects. 

Imagine an endocrinology division staffed with endowed researchers, endocrinologists, and other specialists, that serves as an engine of innovation, making it easy for pediatricians to refer patients to entire endocrinology teams for cutting-edge care. Over the next few years, Andrew Dauber, M.D., MMSc, the new chief of endocrinology at Children’s National will work with the nationally-ranked endocrinology and diabetes division at Children’s National to build this type of robust endocrinology research program, housing specialty clinics for Turner’s syndrome, thyroid care and growth disorders, amongst others. 

Eleven finalists will pitch their pediatric medical device innovation during the annual “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition at the Sixth Annual Pediatric Device Innovation Symposium. Hosted by the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National Health System. This year’s competition focuses on pediatric cardiovascular devices, an area of significant need where advancements can make life-saving differences in the care of children. 

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and Children’s National Health System, a pediatric academic medical center in Washington, have launched a clinical research partnership devoted to treating and preventing allergic, immunologic and infectious diseases in children. An inaugural symposium will take place at Children’s National on Sept. 17, 2018, to highlight the partnership and discuss current and future directions for its research activities.

Children’s National Health System has acquired the latest virtual reality surgical system from Surgical Theater, a leading provider of the FDA-approved breakthrough technology for healthcare. It was made possible through a generous gift from Sidney & Phyllis Bresler, in honor of their children Alex, Jonathan and Amanda and grandson Theo Charles Bresler, and in loving memory of Joshua Stouck. 

Healthy muscle cells rely on the protein dysferlin to properly repair the sarcolemmal membrane, a thin specialized membrane that serves a vital role in ensuring that muscle fibers are strong enough and have the necessary resources to contract. Mutations in the DYSF gene that produces this essential protein causes limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2B (LGMD2B), a disease characterized by chronic muscle inflammation and progressively weakened muscles in the pelvis and shoulder girdle.

Children’s National Health System is now accepting proposals for its annual “Make Your Medical Device Pitch for Kids!” competition. New this year, the competition is focused on pediatric cardiovascular devices to address a significant unmet need for children.