Rejuvenating stem cells

Researchers have rejuvenated aged hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) to be functionally younger, offering intriguing clues into how medicine might one day fend off some ailments of old age. Study results were published May 4, 2012, in Cell Stem Cell.  Hartmut Geiger, PhD, a researcher in the Division of Experimental Hematology/Cancer Biology at Cincinnati Children’s, and at Ulm University Medicine in Germany, was principal investigator.  Read more.

 

PAH Biobank

A $10 million federal grant will held Cincinnati Children’s launch a national biobank for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). William Nichols, PhD, Human Genetics, will lead a project to collect clinical data and blood samples from more than 2,500 PAH patients followed at 23 medical centers. Read more about the biobank.

 

EoE biomarker

A newly identified genetic signature for eosinophilic esophagitis could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment for children unable to eat a wide variety of foods, according to a report in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Read more about the study, led by Marc Rothenberg, MD, PhD, director, Division of Allergy and Immunology.

 

Reducing Preterm Birth

Louis Muglia, MD, PhD, says the new Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth at Cincinnati Children’s will help reduce America’s high preterm birth rate by addressing causes that range from genetics to host-microbe interactions to nutrition. Read more about our new Center.

Migraine research

Determining the optimal first-line prevention medication for migraine headaches will have a transformational impact on the field, says Scott Powers, PhD, and co-director of the Headache Center at Cincinnati Children’s. Read more about the migraine study.

Birth weight boost

New findings from the Mother's Gift project reveal that flu vaccines for pregnant women also help increase infant birth weight. The study, led by Mark Steinhoff, MD, director of the Center for Global Child Health, is published in the February issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.  Read more about the vaccine study.

Asthma TreatSmart

Simplifying asthma care is anything but simple, says Carolyn Kercsmar,  MD. It took five years of teamwork to develop the new Asthma TreatSmart decision-making tool, which is gradually rolling out to 38 practices serving 30,000 children with asthma. Read more about Asthma TreatSmart.

C3N vs. IBD

Through sharing massive databases and building online networks, patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have a better chance of receiving consistent, top-shelf care whether they live in Cincinnati or Alaska, says Peter Margolis, MD. Learn more about the cutting-edge C3N project .

Diets that work

A study comparing three common diets for obese children reports that reduced glycemic load diets are the most promising for effective weight management. The study, published online in the Journal of Pediatrics, was led by Shelley Kirk, PhD, RD, an investigator with the Center for Better Health and Nutrition at the Heart Institute.  Read more about the findings.

Sickle Cell Support

As children with sickle cell disease grow into their teens and 20s, they face increased risk of complications precisely when they are least likely to be connected with their doctors. Lori Crosby, PsyD, is studying ways to improve care coordination as child patients become adults. Read more about the sickle cell project.