Making an Impact on the Lives of Children
Your donations make a meaningful difference in the world of pediatric medicine. Read below to see how the research, made possible by your generous donations, is helping children.
Dr. Mirna Lechpammer
Children's Hospital Boston and
Harvard Medical Center
"The Foundation's funding came in a critical moment of our work, which allowed us to identify a signaling pathway as a target for treatment."
Discovery:
Our research data indicate that lack of oxygen in the infant brain leads to long term brain damage and autism by dysregulation of mTOR/FMRP signaling pathways.
Next Step:
To test the use of drugs to block the mTOR/FMRP signaling pathways in the rat model.
Long Term Goal:
To use drug therapy to limit the negative impact of oxygen deprivation on the pediatric brain.
Dr. Tomo Tarui
Children's Hospital Boston and
Harvard Medical Center
"Continuing support from The Baby Alex Foundation really helps us drive our research. Thank you!"
Discovery:
Analysis of Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome data revealed that the normal-appearing twin often suffered brain injury/maldevelopment. Prior to this research, doctors focused medical attention on the obviously-sick twin, ignoring potential problems with the normal-appearing twin.
Next Step:
To continue the analysis of twins in the Twin-Twin Tranfusion Syndrome study to better understand the degree and timing of brain injuries.
Long Term Goal:
To develope new tools to evaluate fetal brain development in various pathalogical conditions and apply medical intervention to limit the neuraldevelopmental damage.
Dr. Ann-Christine Duhaime
Massachusetts General Hospital
"Thanks to the significant grant from The Baby Alex Foundation, we have access to the state-of-the-art MRI imaging center, the A.A. Martinos Center."
Discovery:
Traumatic brain injuries in young children, who also are prone to seizures after injury, may induce "shock heart" syndrome.
Next Step:
To test the effects of traumatic brain injury, decreased breathing (which occurs after injury), and the accompanying shock heart syndrome on the animal model.
Long Term Goal:
To eventually find a means of intervention to address the secondary causes of injury and reduce the risk of long-term debilitating brain damage in children who suffer a traumatic brain injury.
Find out more about the latest technology in MRI at The NIH Human Connectome Project .