Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Commits $75 Million Over the Next Five Years for Newly Identified Research Centers of Excellence
By implementing this strategic research plan, Children's, in collaboration with its academic affiliates, has an opportunity to become a pre-eminent research enterprise
ATLANTA – (January 11, 2010) – Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the country’s top not-for-profit pediatric health care systems, announces the investment of $75 million for pediatric research centers of excellence over the next five years. In addition, Children’s announces the specific areas of focus for research growth through the next five years. Another phase will be announced in 2014. The announcement comes on the heels of a recent $30 million grant from the Joseph B. Whitehead Foundation, of which $25 million will help fund a new pediatric research building.
After conducting a rigorous proposal submission process guided by Paul Spearman, M.D., Children’s new Chief Research Officer and Vice Chair for Research in the Emory Department of Pediatrics, eight initial key priority areas were identified. These included the existing strong research focus within the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children’s, along with seven new priority areas: immunology and vaccines, transplant immunology and immune therapeutics, pediatric healthcare technology innovation, cystic fibrosis, developmental lung biology, endothelial cell biology and cardiovascular biology. Planned priority areas for the near future include drug discovery, neurosciences, autism, outcomes/wellness, and clinical and translational research.
“We are excited for the chance to develop a robust pediatric research program that seeks to discover treatments and potential cures that will impact not only children in Georgia, but children all over the world,” said Paul Spearman, M.D. “By implementing this strategic research plan, Children's, in collaboration with its academic affiliates, has an opportunity to become a pre-eminent research enterprise. Through clinical and translational research, Children’s can continue to provide leading-edge care to patients and create an innovative environment for physicians.”
In order to create a visible and tangible research enterprise in line with peer institutions, these chosen priority areas were designated as pediatric research centers. Research centers were designed to leverage existing strengths and capabilities at Children’s, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine and other leading institutions in Georgia. This alignment seeks to help create a top ten pediatric research enterprise.
“These new pediatric research centers will provide an important new focus for strengthening pediatric research at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University and in Atlanta, says David S. Stephens, MD, vice president for research in Emory’s Woodruff Health Sciences Center. “Our faculty focused on pediatric research in Emory School of Medicine and throughout health sciences will have key leadership roles in these new centers and we look forward to continuing to expand the quality and depth of our pediatric research program with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.”
In 2006, the Board of Trustees realized that in order to be a world-class pediatric institution and improve the health status of children, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta needed to develop a robust research program focused on acquiring new knowledge and expertise. It was determined that Children’s research would be organized and conducted around five cross-disciplinary themes: Immunology and Vaccines, Experimental Technologies and Therapeutics, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Vascular Biology, and Clinical Outcomes and Public Health. These themes were intentionally designed as broad areas of investigation to support multi-disciplinary, collaborative research efforts. In early 2009, Children’s and Emory recruited Paul Spearman, M.D. as Chief Research Officer at Children’s and Vice Chair for Research in the Emory Department of Pediatrics and took the necessary steps to create and execute a master research strategic plan.
###
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education. Managing more than half a million patient visits annually at three hospitals and 16 neighborhood locations, Children’s is one of the largest clinical care providers for children in the country. Children’s offers access to more than 30 pediatric specialties and is ranked among the top children’s hospitals by Parents magazine and U.S.News & World Report. With generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children’s has made an impact in the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world. Visit www.choa.org for more information.