Research & Projects
Clinical Care
Rising T1DE Alliance (RTA) – Project Sail
The Rising T1DE Alliance (RTA) is a collaborative network dedicated to transforming type 1 diabetes care through data-driven, patient-centered care. With support from the Helmsley Charitable Trust, the RTA developed the Diabetes Data Dock, a cloud-based platform integrating EHR, self-management device data and patient-reported outcomes. In 2024, they began sharing their technologies and methodologies with the diabetes ecosystem. They aim to integrate diabetes data into electronic health records, enhancing predictive models, packaging D-Data Dock for broader adoption and fostering a community of innovators. RTA envisions a future where diabetes management is proactive, technology-driven, and seamlessly integrated into personalized care delivery.
FoodSpace
FoodSpace, a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) initiative, will be a single unified hub or repository of food allergy resources and data that will be shared with the wider scientific community. The development of FoodSpace is a network-wide CoFAR study, led by NU-CoFAR Clinical Research Center at Northwestern University (PI: Dr. Ruchi Gupta and Dr. Juan Espinoza). The Consortium for Food Allergy Research (CoFAR) was established in 2005 to support food allergy clinical research and comprises one Leadership Center and ten Clinical Research Centers.
Health Information Systems
Diabetes Research Hub (DRH)
The Diabetes Research Hub (DRH) is a comprehensive data ecosystem designed to accelerate breakthroughs in diabetes research. We empower researchers by unlocking the potential of data trapped in proprietary medical devices and health systems. By creating a secure and user-friendly platform for data collection, analysis, and collaboration, the DRH fuels next-generation research using AI and ML to develop personalized and effective solutions for diabetes.
Integration of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Data into the Electronic Health Record (iCoDE)
The Integration of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Data into the Electronic Health Record (iCoDE) Project is a consortium whose purpose is to facilitate efficient uploading and integration of diabetes device data into the Electronic Health Record (EHR). The two goals of the iCoDE project are to 1) develop technical specifications to integrate CGM data into the EHR and 2) develop workflows and guidelines to facilitate data integration efforts.
Medical Device Development & Regulation
Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP)
The Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP) is a pediatric medical device accelerator based at Lurie Children’s Hospital and Children's Hospital Los Angeles. CTIP has been funded by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Pediatric Device Consortia grant program in 2013, 2018 and 2023. CTIP promotes the development and commercialization of pediatric medical devices by simultaneously engaging clinicians, engineers, regulators, hospital administrators, industry, patients and the business community to guide and support medical device development for children. CTIP has established a robust network of children’s hospitals, academic institutions, accelerators, incubators and ecosystem partners. CTIP’s network has steadily grown from local to national membership, with 25 institutions across 8 states participating in the 2023-2028 cycle.
Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN)
Led by Children’s National Hospital and Lurie Children’s Hospital, the PPN aims to enhance pediatric emergency preparedness by addressing regulatory science gaps in medical device development. In collaboration with the FDA’s Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories and the Blue Knight Program, the initiative will prioritize unmet needs related to pediatric medical devices and Software as a Medical Device, including AI-driven solutions. Key deliverables include white papers on countermeasure priorities, pediatric AI algorithm analysis and a risk assessment model for rapid software deployment in emergencies. The project will also assess the need for a national pediatric medical device stockpile and launch a competitive funding opportunity for pediatric-focused innovations. By proactively engaging in regulatory science research, this initiative seeks to improve emergency response capabilities and accelerate the safe deployment of pediatric medical technologies.
Human Cell Tissue (HCT) Product Ethics and Regulations
This project, Community to Commercialization: Early Ethics and Engagement Action towards Dissemination of Complex Therapies, aims to develop an ethics-centered, inclusive and anticipatory approach to guide early clinical development, commercialization and dissemination of pediatric human cell, tissue and cellular and tissue-based products (HCT/P). Using bladder tissue regeneration as a model, the project engaged affected individuals, families and marginalized communities to explore ethical, regulatory and public acceptance challenges related to regenerative medicine. By applying the Total Product Life Cycle framework, researchers will create a commercialization roadmap informed by community perspectives and regulatory strategies to facilitate the translation of novel therapies into clinical practice. The project will also produce a generalizable framework for stakeholder engagement in ethical and regulatory considerations for future HCT/P technologies. Through collaborations with regulatory agencies and industry partners, this initiative seeks to accelerate responsible and inclusive development of pediatric regenerative therapies.
CobiCure Fellowship
CTIP has partnered with CobiCure to establish The CobiCure Fellowship for MedTech Innovation. The goals of the fellowship are to foster knowledge, understanding, and expertise in pediatric MedTech innovation; grow the community of professionals who are trained in the area of pediatric MedTech; and develop MedTech solutions that meet the custom needs of children. Fellows spend 12 months embedded within the CTIP team at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, and participate in CTIP’s activities as a MedTech, engage in networking and learning opportunities with CobiCure and the other CobiCure Fellows at other institutions, and design and develop their own medical device fellowship project.
Global Health
Online Pediatric Education Network and Avetis Informatics Fellowship
The Online Pediatrics Education Network began at the request of the Armenian Eyecare Project (AECP) in 2009. Armenia had seen a rise in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) from increased survival of premature infants with the introduction of NICUs. The resulting epidemic of ROP-related blindness created an urgent need for training programs. With the success of our first program, it became clear that the need for advanced medical education existed throughout Armenia’s health care system. CHLA, AECP and USAID joined forces with the Armenian government to create the Armenian Association of Neonatal Medicine. The program then expanded into other areas of need, like endocrinology, cardiology and pediatrics. We then developed the Avetis Health Informatics Program, which trains working professionals using a hybrid model using existing Armenian expertise, supplementing with U.S. experts as needed. We hope to establish a professional network that can be leveraged by fellows.