# Pediatric Transplant Hepatology * **Definition:** A subspecialty of medicine focused on the evaluation, management, and care of children with liver diseases who may require or have undergone liver transplantation, encompassing pre-transplant assessment, post-transplant care, and long-term follow-up. * **Taxonomy:** Specialties / Pediatric Transplant Hepatology ## News * Selected news on the topic of **Pediatric Transplant Hepatology**, for healthcare technology leaders * 1K news items are in the system for this topic * Posts have been filtered for tech-related keywords | Date | Title | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | 5/16/2025 | [**How Texas Children's, MD Anderson will use $150M gift to fight cancer**](https://www.chiefhealthcareexecutive.com/view/how-md-texas-children-s-md-anderson-will-use-150m-gift-to-fight-cancer) | [[Chief Healthcare Executive]] | | 4/23/2025 | [**Dr. Kolaleh Eskandanian joins Compremium's C-suite to lead new division - MassDevice**](https://www.massdevice.com/dr-kolaleh-eskandanian-compremium-chief-strategy-innovation-officer/) | [[Mass Device]] | | 4/3/2025 | [**Northwell team performs hospital's 1st pediatric heart transplant**](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/cardiology/northwell-team-performs-hospitals-1st-pediatric-heart-transplant/) | [[Beckers Hospital Review]] | | 4/2/2025 | [**Innovation Meets Efficiency: New AI Technology Enhances Pediatric Documentation Workflows**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/innovation-meets-efficiency-new-ai-technology-enhances-pediatric-documentation-workflows-302418827.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 3/25/2025 | [**BIOMED ENGINEERING TECH (FULL TIME DAYS) BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING in ...**](https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/biomed-engineering-tech-full-time-days-biomedical-engineering-at-the-valley-health-system-4189749935) | [[Linkedin]] | | 2/14/2025 | [**Agentic AI Startup, VoiceCare AI, Launches to Automate Healthcare Back Office and Super ...**](https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20250214cl19590/agentic-ai-startup-voicecare-ai-launches-to-automate-healthcare-back-office-and-super-staff-workforce) | [[Morningstar]] | | 1/22/2025 | [**$2.5 Million Grant Awarded to Indiana University School of Medicine, Beckman Coulter Life Sciences to Expand Leukemia and Lymphoma Testing in Africa**](https://www.news-medical.net/news/20250122/2425-Million-Grant-Awarded-to-Indiana-University-School-of-Medicine-Beckman-Coulter-Life-Sciences-to-Expand-Leukemia-and-Lymphoma-Testing-in-Africa.aspx) | [[News Medical Net]] | | 12/19/2024 | [**Using MRD, Patient Preference to Optimize Multiple Myeloma Care**](https://www.ajmc.com/view/using-mrd-patient-preference-to-optimize-multiple-myeloma-care) | [[AJMC]] | | 12/13/2024 | [**Children's Mercy Kansas City names Dr. Alejandro Quiroga as president and CEO**](https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/childrens-mercy-kansas-city-names-dr-alejandro-quiroga-president-and-ceo) | [[Healthcare Finance]] | | 12/12/2024 | [**Improving Access to Nivolumab by Lowering Age Restrictions in Clinical Trial**](https://www.ajmc.com/view/improving-access-to-nivolumab-by-lowering-age-restrictions-in-clinical-trial) | [[AJMC]] | | 12/11/2024 | [**Children's Mercy Kansas City Names Dr. Alejandro Quiroga New President and CEO**](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241211937944/en/Children%E2%80%99s-Mercy-Kansas-City-Names-Dr.-Alejandro-Quiroga-New-President-and-CEO/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-RLXHJgazfQJNuOVHefdHP-D8R-QU5o2AvY8bhI9uvWSD8DYIYv4TIC1g1u0AKcacnnViVjtb72bOP4-4nHK5ieT3WxPE8m_kWI77F87CseT) | [[Business Wire]] | | 12/11/2024 | [**Children's Mercy Kansas City Names Dr. Alejandro Quiroga New President and CEO**](https://finance.yahoo.com/news/children-mercy-kansas-city-names-190900484.html) | [[Yahoo Finance]] | | 12/3/2024 | [**Bioprinting technique creates functional tissue 10x faster - Medical Xpress**](https://medicalxpress.com/news/2024-12-bioprinting-technique-functional-tissue-10x.html?deviceType=desktop) | [[MedicalXpress]] | | 11/7/2024 | [**Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Launches Global Partnership to Establish a CAR-T ...**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/childrens-hospital-of-philadelphia-launches-global-partnership-to-establish-a-car-t-therapy-program-in-brazil-302298927.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 10/29/2024 | [**Biden Cancer Moonshot to tackle pediatric drug shortages**](https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/oncology/biden-cancer-moonshot-to-tackle-pediatric-drug-shortages.html) | [[Beckers Hospital Review]] | | 10/28/2024 | [**Biden administration launches pilot to mitigate pediatric cancer drug shortages**](https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/biden-administration-launches-pilot-mitigate-pediatric-cancer-drug-shortages) | [[FierceHealthcare]] | | 10/28/2024 | [**Biden administration launches pilot to mitigate pediatric cancer drug shortages - Fierce Healthcare**](https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/biden-administration-launches-pilot-mitigate-pediatric-cancer-drug-shortages?itm_source=parsely-api) | [[FierceHealthcare]] | | 10/11/2024 | [**Transforming Patient Outreach and Experience with Salesforce Data Cloud: A Healthcare Success Story**](https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/10/11/transforming-patient-outreach-and-experience-with-salesforce-data-cloud-a-healthcare-success-story/) | [[Perficient Healthcare]] | | 10/9/2024 | [**CareDx Appoints Jing Huang Chief Data and AI Officer**](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241009918561/en/CareDx-Appoints-Jing-Huang-Chief-Data-and-AI-Officer/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-RLXHJgazfQJNuOVHefdHP-D8R-QU5o2AvY8bhI9uvWSD8DYIYv4TIC1g1u0AKcacnnViVjtb72bOP4-4nHK5ieT3WxPE8m_kWI77F87CseT) | [[Business Wire]] | | 10/9/2024 | [**CareDx Appoints Jing Huang Chief Data and AI Officer**](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241009918561/en/CareDx-Appoints-Jing-Huang-Chief-Data-and-AI-Officer/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-Q-tiwWZwkcswR1UZtV7eGe24xL9TZOyQUMS3J72mJlQ7fxFuNFTHSunhvli30RlBNXya2izy9YOgHlBiZQk2LOzmn6JePCpHPCiYGaEx4DL1Rq8pNwkf3AarimpDzQGuQ==) | [[Business Wire]] | | 10/9/2024 | [**CareDx Appoints Jing Huang Chief Data and AI Officer - Business Wire**](https://www.businesswire.com/news/siliconvalley/20241009918561/en) | [[Business Wire]] | | 9/5/2024 | [**What it takes to engage clinical workforces on AI - Healthcare IT News**](https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/what-it-takes-engage-clinical-workforces-ai) | [[Healthcare IT News]] | | 8/13/2024 | [**Children's Hospital Los Angeles Names James F. Amatruda, M.D., Ph.D., as Director of the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute**](http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240813271280/en/Children%E2%80%99s-Hospital-Los-Angeles-Names-James-F.-Amatruda-M.D.-Ph.D.-as-Director-of-the-Cancer-and-Blood-Disease-Institute/?feedref=JjAwJuNHiystnCoBq_hl-RLXHJgazfQJNuOVHefdHP-D8R-QU5o2AvY8bhI9uvWSD8DYIYv4TIC1g1u0AKcacnnViVjtb72bOP4-4nHK5ieT3WxPE8m_kWI77F87CseT) | [[Business Wire]] | | 8/13/2024 | [**HSS Advances Data and Technology Priority with New Leadership - PR Newswire**](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hss-advances-data-and-technology-priority-with-new-leadership-302220750.html) | [[PR Newswire]] | | 7/9/2024 | [**AI Grants Aim to Supercharge Pediatric Care Innovation - HealthLeaders Media**](https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/innovation/ai-grants-aim-supercharge-pediatric-care-innovation) | [[HealthLeaders Media]] | ## Specialty Overview (Some LLM-derived content — please confirm with above primary sources) ### Key Players - **Children's Hospital Los Angeles**: A leading pediatric healthcare institution focused on improving clinical care and research in pediatric diseases, including transplant hepatology. - **Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)**: An organization that oversees organ allocation policies, improving outcomes for pediatric liver transplant patients. - **Children's Mercy Kansas City**: A leading pediatric healthcare system recognized for its excellence in clinical care and research, particularly in pediatric transplant hepatology. - **Stanford Medicine**: Conducted a study on pediatric heart transplant wait-list mortality and allocation methods. - **OU Health**: Performed its first pediatric heart transplant in decades, establishing a program in Oklahoma. - **Paragonix Technologies**: Developed the BAROguard Donor Lung Preservation System for pediatric lung transplants. - **Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation**: An organization that supports pioneering research in CAR T cell therapy for pediatric cancers. - **Terasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation**: Conducting research to enhance organ transplantation and address antibody-mediated rejection. - **Cincinnati Children's Hospital**: Recognized as a leading facility for pediatric gastroenterology and GI surgery. - **Naim Alkhouri**: Chief Medical Officer and Chief of Transplant Hepatology at Arizona Liver Health, directing the Fatty Liver Program. - **eGenesis**: A pioneer in xenotransplantation, focusing on genetically engineered organs to address organ shortages. - **Renown Health**: Launched the Renown Transplant Institute, marking Northern Nevada's first kidney transplant program. - **Covalon Technologies**: Showcased vascular access solutions at the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses Conference. - **Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)**: A leading pediatric hospital recognized for its commitment to exceptional pediatric care and research initiatives. - **Avivo Biomedical Inc.**: A company focused on improving organ transplantation and blood transfusion practices through innovative technologies. - **CareDx, Inc.**: A precision medicine company focused on developing high-value healthcare solutions for transplant patients, including monitoring capabilities for cell therapies. - **St. Jude Children's Research Hospital**: A leading institution in pediatric cancer research, focusing on genomics and treatment response data to refine risk criteria for pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. - **Dr. James F. Amatruda**: Newly appointed Director of the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, recognized for his expertise in pediatric cancer. ### Partnerships and Collaborations - **Collaboration among 15 children's hospitals**: A trial led by Dr. Stewart Goldman to evaluate the efficacy of the Optune device in treating aggressive brain tumors in children. - **Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Brazilian National Cancer Institute**: Collaborating to establish a CAR-T cell production center in Brazil to enhance immunotherapy access for pediatric cancer patients. - **NIH and Terasaki Institute**: Multi-million dollar grant to enhance organ transplantation research. - **Children's Oncology Group**: Collaboration aimed at advancing pediatric oncology clinical trials. - **St. Jude Children's Research Hospital**: Collaborated with Seattle Children's and the Children's Oncology Group on genetic research for pediatric leukemia. - **End Drug Shortages Alliance**: Coordinating a pilot program to address pediatric cancer drug shortages through collaboration among healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies. - **CareDx and TC BioPharm**: Collaborating on pharmacokinetic analysis in the ACHIEVE clinical trial for cell therapy in blood cancers. - **CareDx, Inc. and TC BioPharm**: Partnering to conduct pharmacokinetic analysis in the ACHIEVE clinical trial for cell therapy in blood cancers. - **Albany Med Health System and InVita Healthcare Technologies**: Partnering to implement advanced technology for streamlining organ and tissue donation processes. - **Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Voxel Healthcare**: Received a $2.1 million grant to develop an AI-driven clinical decision support tool for pediatric brain radiation therapy. - **Bridge To A Cure Foundation and CBTN**: The foundation awarded $200,000 to CBTN to develop AI-powered tools for pediatric brain tumor research, collaborating with AWS and NIH. - **Walton Institute**: Dr. Lizy Abraham's team received funding for AI technology to improve congenital heart disease diagnostics. - **AWS and Children's Hospitals**: AWS has partnered with multiple children's hospitals, providing $1 million each to enhance AI and cloud computing initiatives aimed at improving children's healthcare. - **University College London**: Developed a novel immunotherapeutic platform targeting bone cancer cells, enhancing immune response against solid tumors. - **Duke Health and EvoEndo, Inc.**: Duke Health is the first provider in North Carolina to offer Sedation-Free Transnasal Endoscopy using EvoEndo's technology. ### Innovations, Trends, and Initiatives - **OPTN Policy Updates**: Recent changes to organ allocation policies prioritize sicker children, improving waitlist mortality and post-transplant survival rates. - **Split-liver Grafts**: Utilization of split-liver grafts from adult donors to address organ size matching challenges for small children. - **BAROguard System**: A new technology for preserving donor lungs during transport, enhancing pediatric lung transplant outcomes. - **Xenotransplantation**: eGenesis's advancements in genetically engineered organs to address organ shortages, including successful porcine kidney transplants. - **CAR-T Cell Therapy**: Demonstrated success in shrinking children's brain tumors, highlighting the potential for innovative treatments in pediatric oncology. - **LIVERguard System**: A preservation system that enhances liver transplant outcomes by providing a controlled environment and real-time monitoring. - **CAR T cell therapy**: An innovative form of targeted immunotherapy utilizing a patient's immune system to eliminate cancer cells, showing promise for various pediatric cancers. - **Genomic Profiling**: Emerging as a critical tool in predicting treatment responses and personalizing care for pediatric patients. - **AI in Transplantation**: CareDx's AI-enabled models for predicting rejection risk are transforming clinical management for transplant patients. - **AI in Pediatric Care**: The integration of AI tools like ClickBrain RT aims to improve radiation therapy planning for pediatric brain tumors by minimizing damage to healthy tissue. - **Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi)**: A validated tool used in studies to improve symptom management in pediatric cancer patients. - **Projet VIE**: An initiative launched by a multidisciplinary team at Sainte-Justine children's hospital to promote healthy lifestyle habits among pediatric cancer patients, focusing on nutrition, physical activity, and mental health. - **Sedation-Free Procedures**: Duke Health's introduction of Sedation-Free Transnasal Endoscopy represents a significant trend in enhancing pediatric care by reducing the need for sedation. - **Telemedicine Expansion**: The American Telemedicine Association is fostering collaboration among healthcare executives to enhance telehealth services, particularly in pediatrics. - **FlowScore**: A new method to assess the oxygen delivery capability of red blood cells, enhancing transplant and transfusion practices. - **AWS IMAGINE Grant Program**: A $10 million initiative to support pediatric research and maternal-child health through cloud computing and AI, addressing challenges in data storage and treatment development. - **3D Cell Culture Technologies**: Growing market driven by advancements in organ transplantation and drug discovery, with companies innovating in this space. - **Optical genome mapping (OGM)**: A technology being pioneered by Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital to enhance precision diagnosis of pediatric brain tumors. - **AI in Diagnostics**: Increasing use of AI algorithms for analyzing phonocardiogram signals to improve congenital heart disease diagnosis. ### Challenges and Concerns - **Post-Transplant Complications**: Despite advancements, there are ongoing concerns regarding complications following pediatric liver transplants. - **Organ Shortages**: Many pediatric patients with acute liver failure do not receive timely transplants due to a shortage of available organs. - **Wait-list Mortality**: Despite improvements, pediatric heart transplant wait-list mortality remains a concern, necessitating further investigation. - **Allocation System Limitations**: Current heart transplant allocation methods do not effectively prioritize the sickest pediatric patients. - **Disparities in healthcare access**: Children from high-poverty neighborhoods experience higher transplant-related mortality rates, highlighting socioeconomic factors affecting health outcomes. - **Operational Issues in Transplant Programs**: Concerns about missed organ donations and workplace culture affecting transplant program efficacy. - **Approval Delays for Pediatric Therapies**: The lengthy approval process for new therapies for children compared to adults poses a challenge in timely access to effective treatments. - **Need for equitable healthcare strategies**: Research indicates that Black children in high-poverty neighborhoods face disproportionately higher risks of overall mortality and transplant-related mortality. - **Pediatric Cancer Drug Shortages**: The need for uninterrupted access to critical medications for pediatric cancer patients remains a significant concern. - **Insurance status impact**: Children insured by Medicaid show significantly worse survival rates and higher risks of transplant-related mortality compared to those with private insurance. - **Organ Shortage**: The ongoing crisis in organ availability necessitates innovative solutions like xenotransplantation. - **Limited Resources in Pediatric Research**: Pediatric medical research often faces challenges due to limited resources and small sample sizes, which can hinder the development of effective treatments. - **Equity in Access to Treatments**: Disparities in access to whole-genome sequencing and innovative therapies for pediatric cancer patients highlight ongoing challenges in healthcare equity. - **Long-term Effects of Cancer Treatments**: Survivors of pediatric cancer frequently experience long-term adverse effects from aggressive treatments, necessitating initiatives like Projet VIE to promote healthier lifestyles. - **Healthcare Inefficiencies**: The Biden administration's overhaul of the organ transplant system aims to address inefficiencies and improve transparency in organ procurement. - **Access to Specialized Care**: Efforts to enhance access to specialized pediatric services, such as mental health care, are ongoing, with partnerships like Teladoc Health and Brightline addressing these needs. - **Data Privacy and Algorithm Bias**: As AI becomes more integrated into pediatric healthcare, concerns regarding data privacy and potential biases in algorithms persist. - **Patient Privacy and Bias**: Skepticism surrounding the use of AI in healthcare due to potential biases and privacy issues. - **Clinical Validation of AI in Healthcare**: Concerns about the lack of clinical validation data for many medical AI devices authorized by the FDA. ## Related Topics [[Transplant Hepatology]]; [[Pediatric Hematology]]; [[Pediatric Gastroenterology]]; [[Transplant Cardiology]]; [[Pediatric Oncology]]