Rady Children’s Hospital Pediatric Research and Innovation
A new idea. A different approach. A better solution. From the research lab to the bedside, Rady Children’s brings a passion for innovation to every moment, always striving for excellence, and always seeking to advance. Check out some of our most recent highlights and accomplishments below.
U.S. News & World Report Names Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego Among Best Children’s Hospitals for 2026-2027
Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego has been named a 2026–2027 Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report, ranking in all 11 pediatric specialties surveyed for the tenth consecutive year, including Orthopedics (#6) and Cardiology & Heart Surgery (#9).
Rady Children’s Appoints Praveen Raju, MD, PhD, as the Nathan Gordon Chair and Medical Director of Neuro-Oncology Program
Rady Children’s recently appointed Praveen Raju, MD, PhD, as Medical Director of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program, while UC San Diego School of Medicine named him Director of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program and Associate Physician Diplomate in Neurosciences. At Rady Children’s, Dr. Raju also holds the Nathan Gordon Chair in Neuro-Oncology, established in 2021 to honor Nathan Gordon, who was diagnosed with a rare spinal cord tumor at 15 months old. Dr. Raju leads efforts to expand the Neuro-Oncology Program and advance research on pediatric brain and spinal tumors as part of Rady Children’s nationally recognized care team.
Transforming Pediatric Healthcare – Rady Children’s and Children’s Hospital of Orange County
Rady Children’s and Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) have united under a combined nonprofit parent organization called Rady Children’s Health to transform pediatric care, research and innovation.
Addressing Health Disparities
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) recently awarded a $4 million Research Project Grant (RO1) to expand a pilot program aimed at improving diverse participation in pediatric cancer clinical trials.
Featured Highlights
Rady Children’s Helps Pioneer New Treatment to Delay Type 1 Diabetes
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego is at the forefront of Type 1 diabetes research, becoming one of the first centers in the nation to use Tzield (Teplizumab), the first FDA-approved drug to delay the onset of Type 1 diabetes.
Advancements in Choanal Atresia Repair at Rady Children’s
Choanal atresia, characterized by the failure of one or both posterior nasal apertures to canalize, has presented clinicians with unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A recent case, led by Dr. Vijay Patel, a pediatric otolaryngologist and rhinologist at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, sheds light on the recent advancements in its surgical management, particularly through the utilization of bioabsorbable, steroid-eluting stents.
Dr. Eric Edmonds Elected Vice President of POSNA
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego proudly announces that Dr. Eric Edmonds, a leading pediatric orthopedic surgeon, has been elected Vice President of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA). This prestigious honor marks a significant milestone as Dr. Edmonds becomes the third Rady Children’s faculty member to serve in the POSNA presidential line, a testament to the hospital’s legacy of excellence in pediatric orthopedics.
Unraveling the Genetic Basis of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
Led by Dr. David McCulley, researchers identified loss-of-function mutations in the Sin3a gene as a key factor in CDH development. Whole-genome sequencing of patients with CDH revealed small deletions in Sin3a, disrupting diaphragm and lung development. Mouse models confirmed that Sin3a mutations lead to CDH-like features, including lung hypoplasia and pulmonary hypertension.
T Cell Response in Pediatric Brain Tumors: Rady Children’s Study Paves the Way for Tailored Immunotherapy Approaches
In a groundbreaking study, Dr. A. Preethi Ganesan, a hematologist and oncologist at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego and adjunct assistant professor of pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine, uncovers crucial insights into pediatric brain tumors.
Preventing Cardiac Arrest in Pediatric ICUs: Sustained Success in Study from Rady Children’s
A collaborative study from the Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Consortium (PC4) and first authored by Dr. Dana Mueller, a pediatric cardiac intensivist at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, shows that hospitals can not only reduce in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) rates in pediatric cardiac intensive care units, but also sustain those improvements over time—if they remain committed to key prevention practices.