Leading to Advance Research in Pediatric Critical Care

UH Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital Division of Pediatric Critical Care has been a leading center of clinical research dating back to the 1980’s. Under the leadership of the inaugural Chief of the Division, Dr. Jeffrey Blumer, landmark studies done at Rainbow helped advance the field and enable safe use of many now commonly-used medications, from ceftriaxone to propofol.

Dr. Steven Shein, current Chief of the Division, has led the Pediatric Critical Care Clinical & Translational Research Program since 2016. Most division members have active research programs spanning a wide range of conditions and issues seen in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. These include:

We are active members in the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network, the world's largest PICU research network. Dr. Ira Cheifetz, Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care, is the former PALISI Chair, and Drs. Shein (Bronchiolitis) and Slain (Social Determinants of Health) lead sub-groups within the network.

As of 2021, we are now active members of the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) funded Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network (CPCCRN). Along with 23 other renowned Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) across the country, we collaborate on innovative trials and studies that aim to improve the care and outcomes of critically ill or injured children.