Blythedale Children’s Hospital is committed to improving the health and quality of life of children with complex and special medical needs.  Our robust Research program is a natural outgrowth of our commitment to children and our culture of innovative clinical and multi-disciplinary care.  Hospital researchers are engaged in select research studies that affect the lives of children and make significant contributions to the practice and delivery of pediatric medicine.

Through its Pediatric Research Institute, Blythedale has created a center of excellence for clinical research to affect the lives of children with disabling illnesses and their families. The Hospital’s research program also serves as a model for the study of clinical outcomes for children with complex illnesses through meaningful collaborations within the Hospital community, with similar institutions around the country and around the world. 

Blythedale’s Scientific Advisory Board is comprised of eminent scientists and pediatric faculty across the country that provide feedback on current projects and assists in prioritizing the Hospital’s short- and long-term research agenda. The Scientific Advisory Board also suggests additional areas of study, avenues of financial support and identifies potential collaborations. Blythedale’s Institutional Review Board is responsible for determining to types of research requiring review, and for conducting initial, ongoing and post-project review.

Collaborations are essential to the Pediatric Research vision at Blythedale Children’s Hospital. Blythedale has developed relationships with many institutions and universities to conduct research studies, including Columbia University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

•  Robotic Therapy in Children with Spasticity. Studies of the efficacy of robot-aided therapy in children with spasticity, focusing on mobility recovery in the arm and wrist, in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
• Ventilator Weaning. Studies include the identification of factors predicating success in weaning children from mechanical ventilation; an examination of pulmonary outcomes in collaboration with five other children’s hospitals with pediatric rehabilitation services; and an examination of the factors identified as predictors of success on weaning children from mechanical ventilation.
• Parent Training. Studies how parents and caregivers retain knowledge relative to their child’s care.
• Long-Term Outcomes. Studies the status of patients on Blythedale’s ventilator weaning protocol between three and six years following discharge.
• Effect of Padding on Pressure Distribution in Orthoses. Studies to compare the use of gel and foam padding in the orthoses of neuromuscular impaired children.
• Neoprene vs. Plastic Vests. Studies the motor function in children with cerebral palsy wearing neoprene or plastic garments to provide trunk support.
• Proxmial femoral Resection. Studies the long-term outcomes of patients having femoral resection for hip pain.
• Tibia vara in Obese Children. Studies children presenting with bow-leg deformities as a result of gross obesity or Blount’s disease.
• Vision Screening in Preschools. Studied the barriers to compliance among preschoolers referred for amblyopia following a simple vision test.

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