News Room

SIDS is still the leading cause of post-neonatal death in infants in the United States, claiming the lives of seven babies every day.

Dr. Hannah Kinney of Children's Hospital Boston-a leading SIDS researcher- and a team of esteemed SIDS investigators across the country have partnered with the CJ Foundation to develop the "SIDS Center Without Walls," a significant endeavor designed to be the catalyst in bringing SIDS research to a clinical level.

The CJ SIDS Center Without Walls unites several distinguished SIDS research institutions in the United States working in a collaborative effort to form this unique research consortium. These institutions include Children's Hospital Boston, Columbia University, the Medical Schools at Dartmouth, Harvard, Yale, and Rady Children's Hospital- San Diego with Dr. Kinney as the Center's Director.

Essentially, the research will focus on: 1) determining the cause(s) of the brainstem serotonin defects in SIDS infants; 2) developing a battery of tests to diagnose and identify living infants at risk of these defects and therefore likely to at risk for SIDS; and finally 3) developing a therapeutic intervention, potentially pharmaceutical, that "corrects" the underlying serotonin defect in these identified living infants throughout the critical period, and thereby prevents sudden infant death syndrome.

"Our group is excited to begin this next phase of SIDS research with the tremendous support of the CJ Foundation for SIDS," said Dr. Hannah Kinney. "Building upon all that has been learned about SIDS and brainstem abnormalities by our group and others, our goal now is to find specific ways to prevent these SIDS deaths."

"This has been an incredible journey for Susan and me," said Joel Hollander. "We established the CJ Foundation during our grief to honor our baby and all the babies that have lost their lives to SIDS. Today, due in large measure to our generous donors, the CJ Foundation is closer than ever to unraveling the mystery behind SIDS. The CJ SIDS Center Without Walls unites the best minds working together for a world without SIDS."

The CJ Foundation has made a bold commitment to proudly embark on the CJ SIDS Center Without Walls- Working Together for a World Without SIDS. This marks the beginning of a tremendous fundraising campaign, a race to end SIDS. For more information on the CJ SIDS Center Without Walls and this research, visit www.CJSIDS.com. Join us in our race to end SIDS.

The CJ Foundation for SIDS is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the special needs of the SIDS community through funding SIDS research, support services and public awareness programs.

Recognized as the leading SIDS organization in the country and the largest non-government funder of programs, the CJ Foundation was co-founded in 1994 by Joel and Susan Hollander in memory of their daughter, Carly Jenna, who died from SIDS in 1993. Since its inception, the CJ Foundation has provided millions of dollars to SIDS researchers, organizations, support programs and public education and awareness campaigns throughout the nation, making possible remarkable strides in its fight to eliminate SIDS.

Children's Hospital Boston is home to the world's largest research enterprise based at a pediatric medical center, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults since 1869. More than 500 scientists, including eight members of the National Academy of Sciences, 11 members of the Institute of Medicine and 10 members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute comprise Children's research community. Founded as a 20-bed hospital for children, Children's Hospital Boston today is a 347-bed comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent health care grounded in the values of excellence in patient care and sensitivity to the complex needs and diversity of children and families. Children's also is the primary pediatric teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. For more information about the hospital and its research visit: www.childrenshospital.org/newsroom.