Last week, major supporters of Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity were treated to a research symposium in London showcasing some of the pioneering research that has made breakthroughs in medicine possible at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

New research led by Great Ormond Street Hospital’s research partner UCL Institute of Child Health has established the first global benchmarks for assessing lung function in different age and ethnic groups. The lung growth charts will help healthcare professionals better understand lung disease progression and help raise awareness of lung disease, which is the world’s leading cause of death.

The Centre, estimated to cost £66 million to build and equip, will bring together clinical and research expertise from Great Ormond Street Hospital and UCL, in particular the Institute of Child Health.

New technology has allowed researchers funded by Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity at the UCL Institute of Child Health to develop safer prenatal tests, in order to avoid any risk of miscarriage.

© Jose Ignacio Soto – Fotolia.comDr Elina Hyppönen has been based at the UCL Institute of Child Health, Great Ormond Street Hospital’s research partner, and studying vitamin D-related diseases since completing her PhD studies in Finland over ten years ago. “I suppose ultimately, my aim is to keep children out of Great Ormond Street Hospital,” she says.

A team based at the UCL Institute of Child Health (Great Ormond Street Hospital’s research partner) have achieved a breakthrough in the treatment of heart disease, after finding a means of repairing cells damaged during cardiac arrest in mice.

Palliative care is a specialised area of healthcare focused on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients. Great Ormond Street Hospital and the UCL Institute of Child Health are marking a new chapter with the opening of the Louis Dundas Centre for Children’s Palliative Care.

Great Ormond Street HospitalAfter raising over £60,000 for our Louis Dundas Centre for Children’s Palliative Care appeal by climbing Mount Aconcagua in 2009, Johnny Bergius claimed he would never do another adventure again. This didn’t last very long!