WSU Health Sciences and Seattle Children’s Research Institute host joint symposium

An inaugural symposium between Washington State University and Seattle Children's Research Institute brought together two of the state's leading health research institutions, sparking new opportunities to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges facing children and families.

The event, designed to foster engagement and catalyze new research partnerships between WSU and Seattle Children's Research Institute, brought over 120 attendees to WSU Spokane, with 55 investigators sharing their findings through posters and podium talks during a one-day event last week.

In his remarks during the symposium, WSU Regent and former president of the Seattle Children's Foundation Doug Picha shared the history of WSU and Seattle Children's Research Institute's relationship and underscored future opportunities to expand the impact of both organizations.

"This symposium is a pivotal step in a partnership that I believe is a catalyst for groundbreaking collaborative research; research that will change the lives of countless children and families," Picha said.

Presentation topics highlighted the breadth of research occurring at both institutions and ranged from approaches to caring for infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome to protecting children with asthma from the dangers of wildfire smoke and breaking down language barriers in healthcare communications.

"This collaborative undertaking between Seattle Children's and WSU has the potential to make a significant impact on pediatric health," said Vittorio Gallo, senior vice president and chief scientific officer for Seattle Children's. "This partnership aims to facilitate the sharing of expertise, resources, and cutting-edge technology, which will enable us to tackle complex pediatric issues with a united front."

At the heart of this collaboration lies a shared commitment to health equity. The initiative is dedicated to ensuring that research directly benefits all children and families, with a focus on those underserved or disproportionately affected by health disparities.

In addition to sharing research, attendees explored cutting-edge resources and laboratories available at WSU and Seattle Children's Research Institute to support ongoing and future projects. Attendees were also able to tour WSU's Autism and Neurodevelopmental Clinic and Native American Health Sciences Center, showcasing some spaces where groundbreaking research and outreach are conducted.

"Our partnership with SCRI not only highlights the power of academic collaboration but also underscores the critical role of research in driving meaningful change for the next generation," said Daryll DeWald, executive vice president for WSU Health Sciences and chancellor of WSU Spokane. "By innovating together, we enhance our ability to collectively tackle bigger questions and develop better solutions that save lives."

Looking ahead, symposium participants can apply for $300,000 in collaborative seed grants to further joint projects between the two institutions. Proposals will be peer-reviewed by a panel representing both WSU and Seattle Children's, with the deadline for submissions set for Nov. 15. Winners will be announced in mid-December.

For more information, contact Lois James, assistant dean for research in the WSU College of Nursing, at [email protected].