Research News from CHOP


Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Awards Gold Medal to Dr. Katherine High, Gene Therapy Pioneer
Prestigious award recognizes Dr. High’s contribution to improving children’s health through her gene therapy research, which began during her time at CHOP.
CHOP Researchers Develop New Computational Tool to Interpret Clinical Significance of Cancer Mutations
CHOP researchers have developed new software called CancerVar, which helps researchers assess the clinical impacts of over 13 million somatic cancer mutations.
CHOP Study Finds Neighborhood Poverty and Crowding Associated with Higher Rates of COVID-19 in Pregnancy
CHOP researchers found neighborhood characteristics were associated with higher rates of SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy during the prevaccination era of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Benefits of Exercise May Vary Greatly in Primary Mitochondrial Disease
While the benefits of exercise may outweigh the risks, genetic status should be considered when recommending it as therapy.
Study Suggests Policy, Education and Training Make Youngest Novice Drivers Better Prepared for License Exam, Less Likely to Crash
New study using license data from Ohio supports reevaluating comprehensive licensing policies in all states as a strategy to reduce new driver crashes.
Structural Racism and Pandemic Stressors Associated with Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Among Black Individuals
CHOP and Penn researchers have found the combined effects of structural racism and the pandemic, known as a “syndemic,” were associated with negative postpartum mental health.

Treatment Developed by CHOP Researchers Prevents Hypoglycemia in Children with Hyperinsulinism
CHOP researchers have shown that a targeted treatment they developed is effective at controlling blood sugar in patients with hyperinsulinism.

CHOP Researchers Create Reference Model for Brain Growth over Human Lifespan
CHOP and Penn researchers, along with others, have created a new tool that benchmarks brain development over the human lifespan, based on MRI data from more than 100,000 individuals.
Opioid Prescriptions for Pediatric Patients Following Surgical Procedures Have Dropped Significantly
Study suggests larger trend of moving away from routine opioid prescriptions after surgery.
CHOP Researchers Uncover Unique Mechanism for Cancer Therapy Resistance
CHOP researchers have found that multidrug resistant tumors have reduced connections between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum, causing signaling dysfunction.