Children's National Medical Center - Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation

Launched in September 2009, theSheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Inovation at Children's National Medical Center is redefinin what is possible in surgery through innovative, integrated research. The Institute's physician-scientists are applying their expertise in their specialized fields to pursue the common goal to make pediatric surgery more precise, less ivasive, and pain-free. By combining research and clinical work in this area, the Institute is developing knowledge, tools, and procedures that will benefit children in the Washington region, across the country, and around the world.

Through four key initiatives, we are making team science a reality through four initiatives simultaneously:

• Pain medicine -- developing tools and techniques to eliminate pain in children before, during, and after surgery
• Bioengineering --using the most advanced technology to “see” inside a child’s body without the need for incisions
• Immunology -- using a child’s own immune system to fight illness and cure disease
• Systems Biology --personalizing treatment for every child depending on their unique genetic makeup, to improve treatment and cure disease