Illustration of a heart showing the Fontan surgery
Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts: A Breakthrough for Children With Heart Defects
Tissue Engineered Vascular Grafts: A Breakthrough for Children With Heart Defects 968 1024 Abbie Miller

An innovation 30 years in the making is poised to change the way children with single ventricle disease experience life after a Fontan procedure. Children with single ventricle disease are often described as having “half a heart.” What this really means is that one…

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DNA Methylation-Based Diagnostics: Refining Diagnosis for the Most Complex Pediatric Brain Tumors
DNA Methylation-Based Diagnostics: Refining Diagnosis for the Most Complex Pediatric Brain Tumors 1024 783 Lauren Dembeck

Developed at Nationwide Children’s, the MACDADI classifier is compatible with next-generation methylation arrays and quickly delivers more accurate tumor diagnoses, offering a clinically validated alternative to outdated and unregulated methylation classifiers. Diagnosing central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children is among the most challenging…

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Dr. Zarife Sahenk, MD, PhD
One Gene, Big Impact: The Science Behind a New Therapy for Brain and Muscle Health
One Gene, Big Impact: The Science Behind a New Therapy for Brain and Muscle Health 1024 683 Madison Storm

A promising new gene therapy developed at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is offering hope for new patients with neurodegenerative and muscle disorders. Led by Zarife Sahenk, MD, PhD, a neurologist, principal investigator in the Jerry R. Mendell Center for Gene Therapy and director of Clinical…

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Startups Update: Where Are They Now?
Startups Update: Where Are They Now? 1024 683 Madison Storm

From cutting-edge gene therapies to transformative medical devices, startups are redefining what’s possible in-patient care and technology. Born from pioneering research and nurtured through strategic collaborations, startups are tackling critical challenges—from neonatal care to oncology and rare genetic disorders—while advancing toward commercialization. Supported by…

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Newborn baby with nasal canula oxygen support receiving care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a hospital, resting while monitored by medical staff.
Shorter Antibiotic Courses Appear Safe for Uncomplicated Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections in the NICU
Shorter Antibiotic Courses Appear Safe for Uncomplicated Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections in the NICU 1024 602 Pam Georgiana

Neonatology and pediatric pharmacy partner to advance antibiotic stewardship. For years, Pablo J. Sánchez, MD, principal investigator in the Center for Perinatal Research in the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, observed that approximately 7 days of antibiotic therapy appeared sufficient for…

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Eric Youngstrom, PhD
Norms, Needs and New Frontiers in Pediatric Mental Health
Norms, Needs and New Frontiers in Pediatric Mental Health 1024 683 Madison Storm

 An interview with Eric Youngstrom, PhD, director of the Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, the Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research (IMBHR) is driving discovery through improved…

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Understanding the Rising Suicide Risk Among Black Youth
Understanding the Rising Suicide Risk Among Black Youth 1024 576 Alaina Doklovic

A new large-scale Medicaid study sheds light on complex factors driving risk and the protective factors that may help save lives. Suicide rates among Black youth (children, adolescents and young adults) have risen sharply in recent years, surpassing those of other racial and ethnic…

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Featured Researcher: Brian Becknell, MD, PhD
Featured Researcher: Brian Becknell, MD, PhD 150 150 Gina Vitale, PTA

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most common bacterial infections in children worldwide, according to the Journal of Pediatric Urology. Did you know that UTIs can be associated with congenital anomalies, which may cause permanent renal scarring in certain children, resulting in long-term…

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Registry Data Provide Insight Into Ultra-Rare Pediatric Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumors
Registry Data Provide Insight Into Ultra-Rare Pediatric Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumors 1024 473 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

At A Glance Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TGCT) is a rare condition that affects joints, mostly in adults but sometimes in children. New research using an international patient registry shows that children often wait more than a year for the correct diagnosis because symptoms…

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Blood Sample in test tube
Filling a Critical Gap in Relapsed Sarcoma Treatment
Filling a Critical Gap in Relapsed Sarcoma Treatment 1024 683 Pam Georgiana

A first-in-sarcoma trial at Nationwide Children’s Hospital tests universal-donor NK cells with chemotherapy to address poor survival rates.   The five-year overall survival rate for children and young adults with relapsed bone or soft tissue sarcomas is between 17 and 26%. For Bhuvana A. Setty, MD, pediatric hematologist…

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Baby Bryson laughing at a check up following treatment for SMA.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Completes One of the World’s First Prenatal Treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Completes One of the World’s First Prenatal Treatments for Spinal Muscular Atrophy 1024 600 Katie Brind'Amour, PhD, MS, CHES

Investigational third-trimester, transplacental “bridging” therapy with risdiplam — followed by rapid postnatal treatment — aims to protect motor neurons during a critical window before and immediately after birth.  When Stacy Auker found out she was pregnant with her third child, she knew a diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) was…

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Selective Steroid Use After Kasai Portoenterostomy Improves Outcomes in Biliary Atresia
Selective Steroid Use After Kasai Portoenterostomy Improves Outcomes in Biliary Atresia 1024 683 Pam Georgiana

Postoperative protocol is associated with improved bile drainage and higher native liver survival without increased short-term risk. A new study published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition provides evidence that a selective, marker-guided approach to postoperative steroid use improves outcomes for infants…

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Study Shows Younger Children Experience Persistent Symptoms Following Concussion
Study Shows Younger Children Experience Persistent Symptoms Following Concussion 1024 540 Abbie Miller and Katelyn Scott

Nearly 30% of children younger than 6 years who had a concussion during the study had prolonged symptoms, which can affect learning and behavior later in childhood. When people typically think of concussion, the first type of patient that comes to mind is a…

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artistic representation of a kidney cross section
A New Candidate Therapeutic Target and Biomarker for Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome
A New Candidate Therapeutic Target and Biomarker for Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome 1024 561 Abbie Miller

New data provides evidence for the role of endothelium in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome pathogenesis.

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Featured Researcher: Katherine E Miller, PhD
Featured Researcher: Katherine E Miller, PhD 150 150 Gina Vitale, PTA

The battle against pediatric cancer is being waged within research facilities globally. In December 2025, five institutions, including Nationwide Children’s Hospital, were awarded a combined total of $5 million in grants from the Ohio Department of Children and Youth to support various research studies.…

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Behavioral Intervention Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Undergoing Epilepsy Evaluation: Increasing Phase 1 Monitoring Rates
Behavioral Intervention Program for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Undergoing Epilepsy Evaluation: Increasing Phase 1 Monitoring Rates 1024 683 JoAnna Pendergrass, DVM

A behavioral intervention program that started as a quality improvement project evolved to a new standard of care — increasing access and compliance with Phase 1 monitoring for children with intractable epilepsy and autism spectrum disorder. A recent study led by Mary Wojnaroski, PhD,…

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Cardiometabolic Screening Gaps in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease
Cardiometabolic Screening Gaps in Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease 1024 683 Pam Georgiana

Retrospective review reveals inconsistent HbA1c screening in eligible patients. Pediatric cardiology has achieved remarkable gains in survival for children with congenital heart disease. However, as more patients reach adolescence and adulthood, they are at risk for experiencing acquired cardiovascular and cardiometabolic conditions such as…

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Advancing Surgical Care for Pediatric Hip Dysplasia
Advancing Surgical Care for Pediatric Hip Dysplasia 1024 575 Pam Georgiana

A novel technique demonstrates safety, stability and reduced casting needs. For children with developmental dysplasia of the hip, open reduction surgery reliably restores the hip to the socket. However, recurrent instability, iatrogenic complications, residual dysplasia and prolonged casting can limit favorable outcomes. To improve…

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Long-Term Kidney Complications Are Common Among Pediatric and Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Long-Term Kidney Complications Are Common Among Pediatric and Young Adult Cancer Survivors 1024 683 Pam Georgiana

Study reveals the need for improved surveillance and updated survivorship guidelines. As pediatric cancer survival rates continue to climb, focus is shifting to enhancing the long-term health of survivors. While treatments have become more precise, their delayed effects are not yet fully understood. A…

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Watchful Waiting: The New Recommendation for Most Preterm Infants With PDA
Watchful Waiting: The New Recommendation for Most Preterm Infants With PDA 1024 683 Abbie Miller

A study published in JAMA found that treating patent ductus arteriosus with medication did not help with disease management but was associated with higher mortality.   A new study from the Neonatal Research Network, published in JAMA, found that treating patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)…

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