2020 Research Annual Report | CHOP Research Institute

2020 Research Annual Report

Accelerating Breakthroughs

Coming Together to Make a Difference

The 2020 Research Annual Report highlights remarkable achievements across our scientific pillars: rare and complex diseases, lifespan research, novel therapeutics, precision medicine, and strategy and growth. Don’t miss the Inspiration story that celebrates the Research Institute community’s resilience, as we safeguarded each other’s health during the pandemic and made progress in pediatric science that is changing lives for the better.

Strategy & Growth
Rare & Complex
Lifespan Research
Novel Therapeutics
Precision Medicine

Strategy & Growth

The Research Institute continues to fuel growth and innovation with newly named Frontier Programs and Centers of Emphasis. CHOP’s Center for Health Equity aims to dismantle systemic racism. A Drexel University partnership opens opportunities to spur scientific rigor, while the Innovation Ecosystem bridges silos, and Arcus accelerates pediatric research with responsible use of data science.

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Strategy & Growth
Strategy & Growth

Rare and Complex Diseases

CHOP Research Institute has an unwavering focus on solving the most challenging rare and complex pediatric diseases. In 2020, this led to novel insights and initiatives. Single ventricle heart defects research expanded, thanks to a joint initiative. New grants supported establishment of a Center for Machine Learning in Urology. A Very Rare Malignant Tumors Program launched, and more.

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DNA Vector Art
Our Major Scientific Themes

Lifespan Research

Our lifespan research approach focuses on disorders directly affecting the fetus, but also on disorders that first manifest in the child or adult. Highlights from 2020 include progress on identifying genetic determinants for diabetes types, an award to build an evidence-base for prenatal gene editing, and a 10-year study that showed enduring benefits of prenatal surgery for spina bifida.

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Lifespan Research
Lifespan Research

Novel Therapeutics and Devices

Don’t miss the many novel therapeutics under development that Research Institute scientists reported on their success and advancements in 2020, including the first-ever treatment for peanut allergies. Learn about practice-changing findings for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia therapy. Find out why an intriguing idea to transform sepsis treatment grabbed the NIH director’s attention.

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Novel Therapeutics and Devices
Novel Therapeutics and Devices

Precision Medicine

Our investigators incorporate cutting-edge approaches in gene therapy, genomics, diagnostic imaging, and data analysis to dive deeper than ever before into individualized medicine. In 2020, we took this commitment to the next level by creating the Cell and Gene Therapy Collaborative to promote collaboration across the Research Institute and shape the next generation of breakthroughs.

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Precision Medicine
Precision Medicine
Inspiration
With a faculty and staff always ready to solve new problems and gain new knowledge, our teams quickly pivoted their expertise to address pressing COVID-19 dilemmas.