Focused Ultrasound: Breaking Barriers, Changing Lives

Dr. Christos Papadelis shares the strides made by robotic rehabilitation for children with cerebral palsy at Cook Children's. His team uses the Amadeo system, which improves upper extremity functions through video games. The project focuses on children with congenital hemiplegia and is showing significant improvements in finger motion and dexterity after only 15 consecutive days of training. Listen up to discover what’s on the horizon as we understand more about neuroplasticity and the potential for broader applications in both upper and lower extremities.

Can focused ultrasound send tiny bubbles beyond the blood brain barrier and destroy diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas in children? Hear why Sibo Zhao, M.D., and John Honeycutt, M.D., believe it can, why this research is so important, and what its future applications might be.

Imagine holding a perfect 3D replica of a child's heart, spine, or skull in your hands. Cardiologist Steve Muyskens and plastic surgeon Han Zhuang Beh share the incredible advantages of having an onsite 3D printing lab that creates precise, unique detailed models so surgeons can map out a clear plan before entering the operating room, providing better, more reliable results in even the smallest patients.

For babies born before 28 weeks and full-term infants born with serious complications, the small baby unit team at Cook Children’s NICU adds an extra level of care, and a fighting chance for a bright future.

Cook Children’s pediatric neurologist, Stephanie Acord, M.D., delves into selective dorsal rhizotomy for children with spastic cerebral palsy with a deep dive into the evaluation of each patient, the neurosurgical process, role of the motion lab, and rehab therapies post-surgery. She also discusses the long-term outlook for these kids as more strides are made in the future.

When a child's immune system doesn't work properly, it can cause problems like severe, frequent or unusual infections and autoimmune disorders. Immunologist, Dr. Natalia Chaimowitz, and Pediatrician, Dr. Alice Phillips, discuss the roles of primary care, immunology and fast-breaking medical advancements in genetics research, diagnoses and treatments in pediatric immunology help kids live their best lives.

A podcast on DNA, diagnosing genetic conditions, optical genome mapping for diagnostic accuracy, comprehensive patient histories, and equitable genetic research participation across all ethnicities.

Dr. John Robertson and his team at Cook Children's Exercise Respiratory Center specialize in diagnosing and treating exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) and dysfunctional breathing in children and young adults. They use the Continuous Laryngoscopy During Exercise (CLE) test, a pioneering method since 2019, to observe airway, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems during exercise. The center, founded in 2023, offers personalized treatment plans involving speech and physical therapies. Research by Dr. Andy Kreutzer aims to develop a single exercise session to diagnose EILO and other respiratory issues. The team emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and collaboration with coaches and trainers to help athletes manage symptoms and continue their sports.

Dr. Rhem shares a promising new gene therapy for children living with Duchenne.

Childhood obesity is a significant national epidemic, with approximately 20% of children and teens in the U.S. classified as obese. This condition, if untreated, leads to severe comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, and cardiovascular diseases, among others. Adolescents with severe obesity often carry these health issues into adulthood, doubling their risk of premature death before age 55 compared to their non-obese peers.