Geisinger and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Collaboration Continues to Advance Research Addressing Pediatric Health Challenges Across Rural and Urban Populations

Geisinger and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) continue to strengthen their collaborative pediatric research partnership, marking a milestone with the funding of a fourth joint research project aimed at improving the health of children and adolescents. 

Launched to foster long-term scientific collaborations between investigators at both institutions, the joint funding program supports research teams that leverage the complementary strengths of CHOP's urban and suburban pediatric population and Geisinger's predominantly rural patient population. The initiative is designed to accelerate innovative research, generate peer-reviewed publications and position investigators for future external grant funding. 

Since the program's inception, four collaborative research projects have received funding, reflecting the growing commitment of both institutions to addressing complex pediatric health challenges through shared expertise and resources. Past funded projects have spanned areas including neurodevelopment, genetics, precision medicine and rare diseases. 

The latest funded project, Risk of EArly Life Sleep Disorders Network (REAL Sleep Network), brings together Geisinger principal investigator Anne Justice and CHOP principal investigator Christopher Cielo to better understand the genetic factors that contribute to pediatric sleep disorders, particularly obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

OSA affects an estimated 1% to 4% of children and adolescents and is associated with significant cardiovascular, metabolic and neurobehavioral complications. Despite their prevalence and strong genetic component, pediatric sleep disorders remain significantly understudied, particularly in genomic research. "This partnership demonstrates the power of collaboration in advancing pediatric research that neither institution could accomplish alone," said Christa L. Martin, PhD, vice dean for research at Geisinger College of Health Sciences and chief scientific officer at Geisinger. "By bringing together diverse patient populations, complementary scientific expertise and shared resources, we are building a strong foundation for discoveries that have the potential to improve the lives of children both in rural and urban communities. The continued success of this program reflects our shared commitment to translating innovative research into better care for patients and families."

"Studying genetic components of pediatric sleep disorders across both rural and urban populations gives us a unique opportunity for our joint team of investigators to learn from the differences and similarities across communities," said Susan Furth, MD, PhD, Executive Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "The REAL Sleep Network will generate insights that can strengthen pediatric science and help us develop more effective, equitable approaches to care for children everywhere." 

The CHOP-Geisinger collaboration underscores both institutions' commitment to addressing pediatric health by developing research that can improve outcomes for children across a wide range of communities. As additional collaborative projects are funded, the partnership is expected to continue expanding opportunities for innovative research and future external funding while strengthening scientific connections between investigators at Geisinger and CHOP.