The Process

Our team of investigators, made up of physicians, scientists, and engineers, works together across several areas of focus, with the goal of finding new treatments, devices, and other innovative approaches to improving children’s health.

1) Pain Medicine
2) Personalized medicine/systems biology
3) Immunology
4) Bioengineering

Our Commitment to Education and Innovation

Our physicians, engineers, and scientists are transforming pediatric surgery by implementing principles of innovation management adapted from proven business methodologies. Through focused leadership, tracking and measuring advances, and by promoting creativity, discovery, and invention, the institute is developing innovations that will allow children to live longer, healthier lives.

In addition, the institute maintains a commitment to advancing the dialogue of innovation in pediatric health care, and empowering innovation through education and advancement of these principles in health care at all educational levels, from high school through established career medical and engineering professionals.

The institute was launched in 2009 by the largest gift ever given for pediatric surgery, $150 million from the government of Abu Dhabi on behalf of the people of Abu Dhabi, to Children's National Medical Center.　

The institute’s location on the main campus of Children's National, also home to the Children’s Research Institute, supports a model of translational medicine that blends research and clinical efforts. this means we are keenly aware of the special clinical needs of children and are able to integrate positive findings into practice faster and more efficiently to continuously improve patient care.　

How We Work

The institute has adopted a process using stages and gates for project assessment and viability. This method is a "best-of-breed" methodological approach to manage product innovation. During each stage, a panel of experts reviews proposed projects in an effort to manage risk and decrease uncertainty by gathering key technical, scientific, business, and operational information. the experts meet with the innovators to listen to their project pitch, to challenge them, and to provide feedback. at each gate, the panel makes a go/no-go decision based on the key criteria of novelty, business needs, feasibility, and soundness of the project plan.

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