 |
|
 |
|
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 355-6000
|
|
|
|
|
Pressroom:
|
|
Press Room
|
|
|
|
November 12, 2004
|
|
|
For Further Information:
Bess Andrews
617-355-6420
elizabeth.andrews@childrens.harvard.edu
|
|
|
|
|
|
Related Site Educates Parents About Participating in Clinical Trials
|
|
|
|
With more than 680,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory space and $100 million in annual sponsored research funding, Children's Hospital Boston is home to the largest research enterprise at a pediatric institution in the world, where its discoveries have benefited both children and adults for over 100 years. More than 500 scientists, including eight members of the National Academy of Sciences, nine members of the Institute of Medicine and 10 members of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute contribute to Children's research efforts. Yet much of the public is unaware that Children's is a research leader in both adult and pediatric diseases and conditions.
Last week Children's Hospital Boston launched a research Web site (www.childrenshospital.org/research/) to introduce its basic and clinical research enterprise to an international audience, strengthen Children's Hospital Boston's brand as an innovator in medicine and science, and enhance Children's reputation among health care consumers. The site is designed to reach a wide range of audiences - scientists and clinical researchers, patient families, donors, internal research staff and employees, research sponsors, potential investors, new recruits, and the media.
|
|
|
|
In addition to web pages that describe the research taking place in each of Children's 36 major departments, divisions, and programs, the site contains profiles of the work of principal investigators and links to their laboratory sites. Other useful features include a library of active clinical trials at Children's Hospital Boston, discussion forums hosted by principal investigators, a user-friendly homepage with the latest clinical and basic research news from the Children's research community, and a calendar of upcoming talks and events at Children's Hospital Boston.
Today, Children's Hospital Boston launched a related interactive website aimed at helping parents make an educated decision about whether or not to enroll their child for participation in a clinical trial. The website (http://www.bostonchild.vitalconsent.com/), developed by Children's Hospital Boston with a grant from the National Institutes of Health, is intended for use by anyone seeking a clinical trial to treat their child's illness and was designed to help parents answer questions about medical research. Parents who visit the site will be able to find out what medical research is, who participates in medical research, and why children participate in medical research, as well as a glossary of terms that are commonly used with medical research and clinical trials.
|
|
|
|
The interactive website features a series of video clips addressing issues involved in pediatric research, including common misunderstandings, differences between research and medical therapy, and potential conflicts of interest. The site also has a written presentation of this information and a reference library which explains terms and concepts that may not be familiar to people outside of the medical research community.
|
|
|
|
Children's Hospital Boston is the nation's premier pediatric medical center. Founded in 1869 as a 20-bed hospital for children, today it is a 300-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. It is home to the largest pediatric research enterprise in the world, benefiting not only children but also adults in their discoveries. Children's clinicians and researchers have teamed up deliver a history of ''firsts,'' including the world's first successful surgery to correct a congenital cardiovascular defect, the world's first successful remission of acute leukemia, culturing the polio virus, the founding of the field of angiogenesis, and the world's first successful correction of hypoplastic left heart disease in a fetus.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The information on this website should not be taken as medical advice,
which can only be given to you by your personal health care professional. |
|
|
|
Copyright © Children's Hospital Boston. All rights reserved. |
|
|
|
|