Research
Motor neurons made from patients’ cells reveal possible ALS drugs and targets
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe, fatal neurodegenerative disorder causing loss of motor neurons and voluntary muscle action. While mouse studies have identified potential treatments, these drugs have typically done very poorly in human trials. “One of the most difficult challenges in drug discovery is identifying a target that has a key role in ... Read More about Motor neurons made from patients’ cells reveal possible ALS drugs and targets
Health and Parenting
Send your kids to camp with peace of mind: Safety guidelines to look for this summer
After this past year, it may be hard to remember what a “normal” summer feels like, but as communities reopen, reclaiming the “normal” summer experience can be a reality for your family. We spoke with clinicians from Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance about how to navigate camps and other summer activities as safety guidelines constantly evolve. The ... Read More about Send your kids to camp with peace of mind: Safety guidelines to look for this summer
Clinical Care
Beyond HIPAA: Maintaining patient privacy in a big data era
After a prolonged, painful era in which medical data were exchanged mainly by fax, most patients today have electronic health records. But the data within them aren’t as private as they might think, says Kenneth Mandl, MD, MPH. As director of the Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP) at Boston Children’s Hospital, he’s seen patient data ... Read More about Beyond HIPAA: Maintaining patient privacy in a big data era
Patient Stories
Saving Laila: Family travels from Egypt for answers about rare genetic condition
When Aya Hendawy got off the plane that had brought her from Egypt to Boston, she didn’t linger in the airport or consider which tourist attractions to visit. Instead, she took a car directly to the Emergency Department at Boston Children’s Hospital, her daughter Laila in tow. “I asked them to please try to save ... Read More about Saving Laila: Family travels from Egypt for answers about rare genetic condition
Research
What drives severe lung inflammation in COVID-19?
A main feature of COVID-19 is lung inflammation and respiratory failure caused by an overexuberant immune response known as the cytokine storm. But why does the body produce such an excess of cytokine immune cells? New research from Talal Chatila, MD, of the Division of Immunology at Boston Children’s Hospital and colleagues provides some insights, ... Read More about What drives severe lung inflammation in COVID-19?
Health and Parenting
Athletes and fatigue: Why am I so tired?
Working out can boost physical and mental energy. Yet sometimes, athletes feel more fatigued than energized. “Feeling tired after a tough workout or bad night’s sleep is normal and temporary,” says Nicole Farnsworth, clinical nutrition specialist in the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children’s Hospital. “Fatigue is a problem when it interferes with an athlete’s ... Read More about Athletes and fatigue: Why am I so tired?
Research
Recommendations for reproducibility in stem cell research
The ability to program induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and drive their differentiation into a variety of neural cells is essential for studying neurological disorders, including intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). But issues regarding variability and reproducibility from lab to lab make translating discoveries difficult, in turn slowing the progress of IDD research. To address ... Read More about Recommendations for reproducibility in stem cell research
Our Community
Celebrating remarkable Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Boston Children’s Hospital thrives, thanks in part to the contributions of its Asian American and Pacific Islander staff and clinicians. Whether developing innovative treatments for chronic disease, treating children with complex conditions, or organizing online events to bring remote teams together during the pandemic, our Asian American and Pacific Islander team members are central to ... Read More about Celebrating remarkable Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
Patient Stories
A new treatment option for Jeanne’s infantile scoliosis
If it hadn’t been for the pandemic, Jeanne McDaniel’s treatment for infantile scoliosis would have started when she was 11 months old. Instead, COVID-19 became the first in a series of events that delayed her treatment — and allowed her scoliosis to progress — for months. When her parents sought a second opinion at Boston ... Read More about A new treatment option for Jeanne’s infantile scoliosis
Patient Stories
What it’s like to have SDR surgery: Scarlet’s story
Scarlet is 9 years old. When she was 7, she underwent selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), a procedure in which a surgeon cuts certain nerves that may contribute to leg spasticity related to cerebral palsy. We talked with Scarlet and her parents, Darcie and Tyler, about their experience in the Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Center at ... Read More about What it’s like to have SDR surgery: Scarlet’s story