March 2014

The list of genes affecting blood pressure is expanding, as researchers pursue likely targets for therapeutics already in existence or in development.

Neonatologists at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia frequently face the difficult decision of whether to place a tracheostomy in a preterm infant with severe lung disease and when to do it.

A study led by a CHOP neonatology expert showed that infants with severe retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) diagnosed and treated under modern protocols remain at risk of nonvisual disabilities, even if blindness can be averted in most children.

Three longtime allies have joined forces to create the new Penn Medicine/CHOP Friedreich’s Ataxia Center of Excellence. The establishment of the center was catalyzed by a $3.25 million gift from the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), in partnership with the Hamilton and Finneran families.

Two recent studies, both co-led by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Brendan J. Keating, DPhil, expand the list of genes involved with body fat and body mass index, and their connection to heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes.

Some children who outgrow one type of food allergy may then develop another type of allergy, more severe and more persistent, to the same food.

By shedding light on how cells deal with stress, a new study led by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Yair Argon, PhD, could lay the foundations for future therapies.

Immunogenetics experts at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia have developed a unique laboratory test to characterize the genes that encode HLA molecules.

Pediatric palliative care is a powerful intervention that can be prescribed alongside curative or life-prolonging therapies for children with serious illnesses. Research has shown that pediatric palliative care services can help reduce a child’s pain, help manage other distressing symptoms, and provide emotional support.

During The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute’s recent Poster Day event, the 2014 Distinguished Research Trainee Award winners were announced. Comprised of a physicist, a molecular biologist, and a cancer geneticist, this year’s awardees’ expertise spans the research spectrum.