Boston Children's Hospital

This is how we do it! 👏 Congrats to neurosurgeon Lissa Baird, MD, co-director of our Brain Tumor Center, and surgeon Eelam Adil, MD, MBA, whose paper “Pediatric Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Skull Base Approach and Closure: Technique and Technical Tips” was recently published in The Laryngoscope’s “How I Do It” column. They describe how their approach to pediatric endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery differs from adult surgical techniques — and highlight technical nuances that other surgeons should know. Read more: http://ms.spr.ly/6045WnMfZ

Please join us in congratulating the Fetal Care and Surgery Center’s Eyal Krispin, MD, on being appointed co-chair of the International Society for Prenatal Diagnosis’ Fetal Therapy SIG. 👏 This special interest group is dedicated to advancing in utero treatment of fetal conditions. It fosters global collaboration among professionals involved in the field of fetal diagnosis and treatment, promoting discussions on clinical practices, research, as well as social and ethical considerations. http://ms.spr.ly/6049WPHjF

Cavernous malformations pose unique challenges for pediatric patients. At the Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventions Center, Dr. Ed Smith and his team are advancing the field with innovative research. Their latest findings on the genetic markers linked to familial and sporadic cases are improving diagnostic accuracy and informing personalized treatments. By certain signaling, they are uncovering new potential targets for therapy. 👇

Anne O'Donnell-Luria, MD, PhD of Boston Children’s and the Broad Institute was among a squad of genetic detectives that tracked down the unique genetic cause of an ultra-rare disorder affecting three children. The culprit — loss of a chunk of DNA in a gene called CHASERR — was found in a noncoding part of the genome. Read more in this story from the Broad Institute 👇

More support for implementing genome sequencing as a first-line test for pediatric epilepsy, since it can make genetic diagnoses when exome sequencing cannot. The researchers believe the diagnostic yield, 7.2% in their study cohort, will increase as more is learned about noncoding regions of the genome. More from Alissa D’Gama et al. in JAMA Neurology 👇

In honor of Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, patients, families, and staff from Boston Children’s gathered last week for the 14th Annual Blue Sky Day. Sponsored by Rett Syndrome Angels, Blue Sky Day honors children and adults with Rett Syndrome – a rare genetic disorder that causes a loss of spoken language and motor skills, as well as behavioral and neurological problems. During Blue Sky Day, families were recognized and celebrated as they ascended on the steps on the Quad of Harvard Medical School! 💜 Take a look at some special photos from the event. To learn more about Rett Syndrome and Boston Children’s Rett Syndrome Program, please visit: http://ms.spr.ly/6044WHVcM.

What if some of what we thought we knew about DHG-H3G34 turned out to be wrong? New research led by our own Mariella Filbin, MD, PhD, finds that the cellular makeup of this deadly type of brain tumor differs from that of other gliomas. The discovery “opens up a whole new array of potential drug targets,” she says — a strategy recently tested in a young patient with a high recurrent DHG-H3G34 tumor. 👇

Congratulations to two of our Benderson Family Heart Center leaders for each receiving the American Heart Association's highest honor. 👏 Cardiologist Jane Newburger and cardiac surgeon Pedro del Nido were elected as 2024 Distinguished Scientists, recognizing their many achievements in cardiovascular care and research. AHA recognizes only six heart specialists a year, so it’s a remarkable distinction that two Boston Children’s doctors received the honor together. Thank you, Drs. del Nido and Newburger, for your many years of dedication to improving the lives of our patients.

Congratulations to Hao Wu, PhD, in our Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine! She was named to the prestigious National Academy of Medicine for her discovery of signalosomes, central organizing structures that have changed our understanding of innate immune signaling. Her work could lead to new therapeutic strategies for inflammation and cancer. http://ms.spr.ly/6049WEALU