- Zika-exposed children may display neurodevelopmental differences (November 29, 2022)
A new study finds that children who are exposed to the Zika virus while in the womb, but who are not subsequently diagnosed with Zika-related birth defects and congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), may still display differences in some aspects of cognitive development, mood and mobility compared to unexposed children. - COVID-19 vaccine may be lifesaving for pregnant women and their unborn children (October 12, 2022)
In a new article published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, researchers conclude that the COVID-19 vaccine not only protects pregnant women but may also be lifesaving for their unborn children. - No. 5 in the nation and No. 1 for newborn care, Children’s National Hospital named to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals Honor Roll (June 14, 2022)
Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., was ranked No. 5 nationally in the U.S. News & World Report 2022-23 Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings. - Northern Virginia Magazine names 104 Children’s National physicians “Top Doctors” (January 20, 2022)
The annual "Top Doctors" list from Northern Virginia Magazine features 104 Children’s National Hospital care providers across 26 specialties. - What we do and don’t know about the many ways COVID-19 can impact pregnant women and their babies (January 13, 2022)
Pregnant women should get vaccinated to minimize the detrimental health effects COVID-19 has on the placenta, the fetus and the newborn, states Roberta L. DeBiasi, M.D., M.S., division chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Children’s National Hospital in an editorial published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. - Measuring tape is a critical tool for following Zika virus-exposed children (July 7, 2020)
Zika virus continues to have a major impact on the lives of babies born after exposure, even those who were born with little outward signs of impact. That makes it extremely important to continue following Zika-exposed infants long term, even if they haven’t been born with severe abnormalities. - Children’s National Hospital ranked a top 10 children’s hospital and No. 1 in newborn care nationally by U.S. News for fourth year in a row (June 16, 2020)
U.S. News & World Report ranked Children’s National a top 10 children’s hospital for its Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings for 2020-21, with a #1 ranking in newborn care for the fourth straight year. Learn more about our specialty care rankings. - Higher maternal socioeconomics offer little protection against toxic prenatal stress (January 29, 2020)
When pregnant women experience elevated anxiety, stress or depression, these prenatal stressors can alter the structure of the developing fetal brain and disrupt its biochemistry - even if these women have uncomplicated pregnancies and high socioeconomic status, according to Children’s National Hospital research published online Jan. 29, 2020, in JAMA Network Open. - Northern Virginia Magazine names 76 Children’s National physicians “Top Doctors” (January 23, 2020)
The annual "Top Doctors" list from Northern Virginia Magazine features 76 Children’s National Hospital care providers across 25 specialties. - When pregnant moms are stressed out, babies' brains suffer (January 13, 2020)
Knowing that your unborn fetus has congenital heart disease causes such pronounced maternal stress, anxiety and depression that these women’s fetuses end up with impaired development in key brain regions before they are born, according to research published online Jan. 13, 2020, in JAMA Pediatrics. - NICU video stream provides peace of mind for parents (June 28, 2019)
In late May 2019, Children’s National neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) introduced NicViewTM, a camera system that enables parents to log in from any internet-enabled device to see their infants virtually when they are unable to visit the NICU in person. - Ranked No. 6 overall and No. 1 for newborn care, Children’s National named to U.S. News Best Children’s Hospitals top 10 list for third year (June 18, 2019)
U.S. News & World Report ranked Children’s National #6 overall for its Best Children’s Hospitals annual rankings for 2019-20, with a #1 ranking in newborn care for the third straight year. - NICU slashes unintended extubation rates by 60% over 10 years (April 29, 2019)
Find out more about how the Children’s National NICU has slashed unintended extubation rates by 60% over 10 years. - Northern Virginia Magazine names 59 Children’s National physicians "Top Doctors" (January 24, 2019)
The annual "Top Doctors" list from Northern Virginia Magazine features 59 Children’s National Hospital care providers across 23 specialties. - Reducing variations in feeding practices and fortifying breast milk helps micro-preemies grow (December 11, 2018)
Standardizing feeding practices, including the timing for fortifying breast milk and formula with essential elements like zinc and protein, improves growth trends for the tiniest preterm infants, according to Children’s research presented during the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) 2018 Scientific Symposium. The symposium is held in conjunction with the IHI National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care. - Sequential imaging of Zika-exposed fetuses reveals most have normal brain development (November 26, 2018)
Ultrasound (US) imaging performed during pregnancy and after childbirth revealed most Zika-related brain abnormalities experienced by infants exposed to the Zika virus during pregnancy, according to a prospective cohort study published online Nov. 26, 2018, in JAMA Pediatrics. Some Zika-exposed infants whose imaging had been normal during pregnancy had mild brain abnormalities detected by US and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after they were born. - NIAID and Children's National partner to advance pediatric clinical research (September 17, 2018)
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, and Children’s National Health System, a pediatric academic medical center in Washington, have launched a clinical research partnership devoted to treating and preventing allergic, immunologic and infectious diseases in children. An inaugural symposium will take place at Children’s National on Sept. 17, 2018, to highlight the partnership and discuss current and future directions for its research activities. - Placental ALLO levels rise during pregnancy and peak as fetuses approach full term (May 8, 2018)
The placenta ramps up production of the hormone allopregnanolone in the second trimester of pregnancy and achieves peak production just as fetuses approach full term, according to multi-institutional research presented during the Pediatric Academic Societies 2018 annual meeting. - EPO protects preemies brains by modifying genes essential for generating new brain cells (May 7, 2018)
Genetic analyses conducted by a multi-institutional research team finds that EPO may work its neuroprotective magic by modifying genes essential for regulating growth and development of nervous tissue as well as genes that respond to inflammation and hypoxia. - Advanced MRI Can Detect Placental Perfusion Abnormalities in Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal CHD (January 5, 2018)
In pregnancies complicated by fetal congenital heart disease, global placental perfusion was significantly decreased and regional variation of placental perfusion significantly increased as pregnancies progressed, findings that point to non-invasive imaging providing an early warning of placental dysfunction. A Children’s National Health System research team is thought to be the first to report non-invasive, whole placenta perfusion imaging in utero in a study published online Nov. 23, 2017 in Scientific Reports. - Children’s National Physicians Named “Top Doctors” By Northern Virginia Magazine (February 1, 2017)
Northern Virginia Magazine has named 64 Children’s National Health System physicians to its 2017 list of “Top Doctors.” - Suspected Domestic Zika Virus Infection in Florida Underscores the Importance of Ongoing Vigilance (July 28, 2016)
Federal health officials continue to investigate the first possible cases of domestic Zika virus transmission in Florida. In light of the growing number of Zika infections, the vast majority of which have been associated with foreign travel, vigilance for additional cases is warranted. - Children's Experts Present at American Society of Neuroradiology 54th Annual Meeting (May 25, 2016)
Research scientists and clinicians affiliated with Children’s National Health System will present on a number of subjects during the American Society of Neuroradiology 54th Annual Meeting, held from May 23 through May 26, 2016 in Washington, DC. - Children's National Launches New Congenital Zika Virus Program (May 16, 2016)
The Children’s National Health System Fetal Medicine Institute and Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease today announce the formation of a Congenital Zika Virus Program to serve as a dedicated resource for referring clinicians and for pregnant women to receive counseling and science-driven answers about the impact of the Zika virus on their pregnancies. - The Washington Post Covers Zika research from the New England Journal of Medicine, co-authored by Children's National Experts (March 30, 2016)
Researchers from Children's National co-authored a New England Journal of Medicine study that found evidence of infectious Zika virus in a 21-week-old fetal brain. - Children's National Experts Lead New Zika Research: Congenital Zika Viral Infection Linked to Significant Fetal Brain Abnormalities, Despite ‘Normal’ Ultrasounds (March 30, 2016)
Infectious Zika virus was isolated from the brain of a 21-week-old fetus after causing extensive damage to brain tissue – despite ultrasounds that showed no sign of microcephaly at weeks 13, 16, and 17, according to a report published online March 30, 2016 in The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). - Advanced Imaging Technique Shows Connection Between Abnormal Placenta Growth and Impaired Growth of Fetuses with CHD (March 15, 2016)
A team of researchers from Children’s National Health System used 3-D volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in an innovative study that reported that when the placenta fails to grow adequately in a fetus with congenital heart disease (CHD), it contributes to impaired fetal growth and premature birth. - Fetal Medicine Genetic Counselor Comments on Prenatal Screenings (February 3, 2015)
As part of an editorial collaboration with Medscape, Genetic Counselor Margaret Menzel discusses the use of noninvasive prenatal tests. - Children's National Specialists Named Top Doctors by Northern Virginia Magazine (January 30, 2015)
Northern Virginia Magazine has named more than 45 Children’s National Health System physicians to their list of 2015 “Top Doctors.” The leading pediatric physicians included in this elite list represent many specialties within Children’s National including Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Endocrinology, Hematology/Oncology, Neonatology, Otolaryngology, Urology, and Surgery. - Fetal Medicine Expert Talks about Fetal Imaging and Studying the Fetal Brain (January 4, 2015)
Catherine Limperopoulos, PhD, spoke to The Guardian about the role of fetal imaging in diagnosing and treating brain disorders. - Children's National Husband-Wife Medical Team Explores the Fetal Brain (September 5, 2014)
Drs. Adré du Plessis and Catherine Limperopoulos tell WAMU’s Metro Connection about being partners in life, and also in science. At Children’s National they focus on fetal brain development in the Fetal Medicine Institute. - Children's National Experts Discuss Importance of Fetal Cardiology Subspecialty to Fetal Medicine (July 30, 2014)
Earlier this year, the American Heart Association (AHA) released a scientific statement on the diagnosis and treatment of fetal cardiac disease written by a team of cardiac and obstetrical experts with lead author, Mary T. Donofrio, MD, Director of the Fetal Heart Program and Medical Director of the Critical Care Delivery Program for the Fetal Medicine Institute at Children’s National Health System. - New Children's National Fetal Medicine Institute Offers Advanced Diagnostics and Patient Care (May 13, 2014)
Children’s National Health System recently opened the Fetal Medicine Institute to provide expectant parents with advanced fetal and newborn care and cutting-edge diagnostics. - Life Stressors Trigger Neurological Disorders Researchers Find (April 22, 2014)
A new study finds that when mothers are exposed to trauma, illness, alcohol or drug abuse, it may activate a brain cell molecular trigger that activates conditions such as schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and some forms of autism. - Children’s Husband-Wife Neuro Team Uses Novel MRI Technology to Identify Early Fetal Brain Development (February 4, 2014)
A husband and wife team at Children’s National identifies the earliest signs of impaired fetal brain development in high-risk pregnancies and develops the safest management plans for pregnancy and immediately after birth. - Children’s National Receives NIH Grant to Further Research Prenatal Brain Injury (September 6, 2013)
Children’s National received a five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to identify reliable early signs of prenatal brain injury caused by congenital heart disease.