Research Blog
Published on August 19, 2014
(No, it’s not the sun.) Leukemia cell coated with antibody is marked for destruction by activated natural killer cells.
Researchers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles have shown that a select team of immune-system cells from patients with leukemia can be multiplied in the... Read More
Published on August 18, 2014
Red fibers show growing axons—the part of the nerve cell that sends out signalsSeveral studies have shown that maternal obesity is associated with increased risks for obesity, hypertension and type 2 diabetes in the offspring. There is also growing appreciation that the... Read More
Published on August 15, 2014
Like most doctors, Thomas Coates, MD, tells his patients not to worry. Yet, unlike the gentle encouragement typically offered by clinicians, Coates’ advice is prescriptive.As a pediatric hematologist who treats one of the largest populations of patients with sickle cell disease... Read More
Published on August 13, 2014
Normal microscopic anatomy of the large intestine
Bloating, gas, abdominal pain and diarrhea are physically uncomfortable and often taboo topics, but for children with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, these symptoms dictate day-to-day life. With two clinical trials exploring... Read More
Published on August 11, 2014
David Vetter, publically known as the “bubble boy”. Image courtesy of Science Source.
With a physical exam and quick prick of the heel, doctors can detect dozens of serious medical conditions immediately after birth.
Severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) is one... Read More
Published on August 6, 2014
Technological innovations in health care can save lives and increase quality of life. Pacemakers restore rhythm to the heart, stents prop open weak arteries, and artificial knees and hips bring patients back to their feet.But these devices aren’t meant for children.“For years... Read More
Published on August 4, 2014
In the first longitudinal study of its kind, Prapti Gautam, PhD, and colleagues from The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles found that children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) showed weaker brain activation during specific cognitive tasks... Read More
Published on July 23, 2014
Reaching temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit (an incomprehensible number, especially to Angelenos), Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia is the coldest capital city in the world. And it’s also one of the most polluted. In this rapidly-developing city, particulate air pollution... Read More
Published on July 11, 2014
After nearly a decade in post-secondary education, a select few continue on and commit to specialized research training after earning their PhD. These postdoctoral scholars, commonly referred to as “postdocs", are training to become the leading researchers in their fields... Read More
Published on July 9, 2014
Photo by Anat Erdreich-Epstein, MD, PhD, from The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
In December 2013, Anat Erdreich-Epstein, MD, PhD, and colleagues were the first to link the level of RNA in the PID1 protein to brain tumor growth. Erdreich-... Read More
Published on July 3, 2014
Controlling our thoughts, actions and even our thoughts about our actions, the brain is an incredible powerhouse that shapes us into who we are. But its appearance and functions change as we grow up, making it important that researchers observe the brain during every stage of... Read More
Published on June 27, 2014
Have you seen the KCBS Los Angeles coverage on the special connection between Grace—a 4-year-old with a rare form of leukemia, and Ella—a bald, wig-wearing Barbie? If not, check it out!While Ella lifts her spirits day-to-day, Grace’s oncologist, Paul Gaynon, MD, from Children’... Read More
Published on June 25, 2014
Calling all Magic School Bus enthusiasts: Do remember when Arnold swallowed Ms. Frizzle and the rest of the class, giving them an “inside look” at the human body? Well, strap your bones right to your seat, because investigators from The Saban Research Institute are... Read More
Published on June 23, 2014
Between iPhone-toting 6 year olds and teenagers with online dating profiles, it seems as though kids are getting older, younger. But what if they actually are? Over the past 20 years, studies have shown that the rates of children starting puberty before ages 8 or 9 is on the... Read More
Published on June 5, 2014
Fibromyalgia tender points as outlined by the American College of Rheumatology. Credit: 3D4Medical.com
Unseen by lab tests and the naked eye, fibromyalgia is an “invisible” condition characterized by chronic musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Because there is no physical... Read More
Published on June 3, 2014
Credit: Larry Mulvehill. Photo Researchers, Inc.
It’s every parent’s worst nightmare: your child’s fever spikes, a cut keeps bleeding or body aches persist and you rush to the emergency department (ED). However, even though pediatric patients represent about 10 percent of... Read More
Published on May 27, 2014
X-ray image of inflamed bronchioles, characteristic of bronchiolitis. Image courtesy of Alex MacLennan, Royal Alexandra Hospital, United Kingdom.
A team of researchers, led by physicians from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, have found that infants with bronchiolitis who were... Read More
Published on May 20, 2014
Photomicrograph of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Courtesy of Wellcome Images.
Researchers at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles have discovered that by targeting a particular receptor, chemotherapy-resistant cancer cells can be killed in an acute form of childhood... Read More
Published on May 20, 2014
Smog rises from the ger districts on the outskirts of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Courtesy of Lisa Gardner.
Burning coal for domestic heating may contribute to early fetal death according to a new study by experts from The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los... Read More
Published on May 19, 2014
Respiratory system. Credit: Wei Shi, MD, PhD, from The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los AngelesAs part of the Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine Program, Wei Shi, MD, PhD, studies the molecular mechanisms of lung development, injury repair and... Read More