Driving future pandemic readiness with the Pediatric Pandemic Network

The Pediatric Pandemic Network (PPN) was established to address the nationwide shortfalls in pediatric care that were exposed and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The PPN is a collaborative led by Children’s National and Rainbow and Baby’s Hospital in Cleveland. Through the network, ten children’s hospitals will serve as regional hubs for improving care for all children in pandemics and other disasters. Investigators in the Center for Translational Research at Children’s National Hospital played a central role in the PPN this year, working with regional and national programs, academic institutions, community organizations and individual experts to share pediatric-related information, educational resources and best practices.

In July 2022, five leading children’s hospitals, led by Children’s National Hospital, secured $29 million in federal funding from HRSA to enhance future pandemic and disaster readiness. This funding will support the PPN’s efforts to improve pediatric care during pandemics and disasters, including developing and implementing best practices. The Center for Translational Research will play a critical role in translating research findings into effective practices that can be implemented at the hospital and at community levels.

The hub for this grant will be located at the newly opened Children’s National Research & Innovation Campus – the site of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Work will take place in the renovated Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, where past investigators made seminal discoveries in infectious diseases and pandemics.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of pediatric research and the need for a global approach to pediatric care. The Center for Translational Research at Children’s National Hospital is committed to advancing pediatric research and implementing effective practices to improve pediatric care during pandemics and disasters. JAMA Pediatrics has recently expanded the scope of Original Investigations considered for publication by issuing a new call specifically for reporting on pediatric translational science research. This highlights the importance of translational research in improving pediatric care and the need for continued efforts to translate research findings into effective practices.

“As the current pandemic has proven to the world, pandemics and public health crises magnify pre-existing environmental, health, social and economic inequities,” said Joelle Simpson, M.D., M.P.H., principal investigator of this grant and division chief of Emergency Medicine and medical director of Emergency Preparedness at Children’s National.

The Center for Translational Research at Children’s National Hospital played a significant role in the Pediatric Pandemic Network this year, working to improve pediatric care during pandemics and disasters. The network, and the work leading to the grant establishing it, is proof of the commitment to driving pediatric research breakthroughs and implementing effective practices to improve pediatric care during pandemics and disasters.