Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation
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Anthony Sandler
Director, Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation
asandler@childrensnational.org
About the Center
Founded in 2010 through a $150 million gift from the government of Abu Dhabi, the mission of the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation (SZI) is to make pediatric surgery more precise, less invasive and pain free. Our focus areas include technology innovation, pediatric device development and basic science designed to improve any interventions in pediatric patients.
Since its inception, the Institute has created an extensive infrastructure for research and development along with a focus on intellectual property and technology commercialization. The Institute encourages close partnerships between clinical and scientific experts, as well as with outside collaborators in both academia and industry.
The Institute currently has more than 15 investigators primarily affiliated with SZI and more than 70 technical and scientific staff, including postgraduate and graduate students and fellows. The Institute is further supported by, and has access to, more than 600 clinicians and clinician-scientists with Children’s National Hospital and the Children’s National Research Institute, the research arm of Children’s National.
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Principal Investigators
Charles Berul, MD
- Sheikh Zayed Institute 08d792c6-2282-46bd-aaf7-f4978d04069b
- Medical Device and Technology Development d029344e-bf13-47b5-8745-087e62423d67
- Pediatric Cardiac Research afbd1782-70b8-47ab-b8cd-7a8f21f2add2
- Electrophysiology Research 643615f3-171a-4eca-9e7f-c15984d46705
Research Centers
Research Areas
- Medical Device and Technology Development
- Pediatric Cardiac Research
- Electrophysiology Research

Kevin Cleary, PhD
- Associate Director, Engineering
- Sheikh Zayed Professor, Bioengineering
Kevin Cleary, PhD
- Sheikh Zayed Institute 08d792c6-2282-46bd-aaf7-f4978d04069b
- Medical Robotics Lab a648b1bc-6e2c-4315-b695-e824a141d46f
- Bioengineering 9d57d8b2-2d5d-46d1-afb4-f9fec4fc6df1
Research Centers
Lab
Research Areas
- Bioengineering
Michael Hsieh, MD, PhD
- Sheikh Zayed Institute 08d792c6-2282-46bd-aaf7-f4978d04069b
- Tropical and Neglected Diseases 89e61c57-62a7-4d0c-a122-e75d8477bfad
Research Centers
Research Areas
- Tropical and Neglected Diseases

Marius George Linguraru, DPhil, MA, MSc
- Principal Investigator
- Connor Family Professor, Research and Innovation
Marius George Linguraru, DPhil, MA, MSc
- Sheikh Zayed Institute 08d792c6-2282-46bd-aaf7-f4978d04069b
- Precision Medical Lab 787f13da-69ed-42f4-972b-707f39b9cacf
- Precision Medical Imaging 1132a12b-13f3-4951-a93d-82765bf22e68
- Quantitative Imaging ea832168-04fc-4c83-b9bd-4adc89398354
- Artificial Intelligence and Predictive Analytics 27ea0bc7-b6a9-47f4-b9da-55ba909d752b
Research Centers
Lab
Research Areas
- Precision Medical Imaging
- Quantitative Imaging
- Artificial Intelligence and Predictive Analytics
Reza Monfaredi, PhD
- Sheikh Zayed Institute 08d792c6-2282-46bd-aaf7-f4978d04069b
- Medical Device and Technology Development ffee23b4-df2e-4967-8189-5eb67ff85d81
- Telehealth 42ddaa86-e24a-40a6-b687-e9ffee68c720
Research Centers
Research Areas
- Medical Device and Technology Development
- Telehealth
Nikki Posnack, PhD
- Posnack 6e1d6b3b-2f3b-4e6e-9758-e52d2f8b79cf
- Sheikh Zayed Institute 08d792c6-2282-46bd-aaf7-f4978d04069b
- Pediatric Cardiac Research afbd1782-70b8-47ab-b8cd-7a8f21f2add2
- Electrophysiology Research 643615f3-171a-4eca-9e7f-c15984d46705
- Cardiac Visualization ad212648-e36e-4e68-b078-0cf7fc39e3e4
Research Centers
Lab
Research Areas
- Pediatric Cardiac Research
- Electrophysiology Research
- Cardiac Visualization

Diego A. Preciado, MD, PhD
- Chief, Pediatric Otolaryngology
- Co-Director of the Cochlear Implant Program
Diego A. Preciado, MD, PhD
- Sheikh Zayed Institute 08d792c6-2282-46bd-aaf7-f4978d04069b
- Nino 19b5e75e-faf0-42b2-a292-66eef47b879b
- Airway and Lung Diseases 4dab9048-0bb3-4fc6-a39b-9fe1ad387b00
- Medical Device and Technology Development d029344e-bf13-47b5-8745-087e62423d67
Research Centers
Lab
Research Areas
- Airway and Lung Diseases
- Medical Device and Technology Development

Anthony Sandler, MD
- Senior Vice President and Surgeon-in-Chief, Joseph E. Robert, Jr., Center for Surgical Care
- Director, Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation
Raj Shekhar, PhD
- Sheikh Zayed Institute 08d792c6-2282-46bd-aaf7-f4978d04069b
- Medical Device and Technology Development d029344e-bf13-47b5-8745-087e62423d67
Research Centers
Research Areas
- Medical Device and Technology Development
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