Research

A World Leader in Healthcare Research, Finding Answers Every Day

Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) is an internationally recognized leader in the creation of new knowledge and therapies to improve the health of individuals and populations. With a research-intensive medical school, 25 shared research facilities on campus, and translational research that creates the bridge between the laboratory and patient care, scientific discoveries abound. Hundreds of clinical trials are currently conducted at Columbia in many specialty areas.  

CUIMC's tradition of innovation has led to significant achievements, including the first successful heart transplant in a child, identification of cystic fibrosis, creation of the Apgar score to assess newborns, design of the first significant programs to reduce maternal mortality in resource-poor countries, and the oldest program in nurse midwifery.

Our Groundbreaking Research

• Less-Invasive Surgical Technique Puts 11-Year-Old with CP Back on the Court
  Columbia neurosurgeon uses a less-invasive technique to reduce spasticity in children with cerebral palsy.
• A Systematic Study of Childhood Obesity Risk Factors and Interventions
  Researchers conducted a systematic review of studies investigating both maternal and infant risk factors for childhood obesity.
• Genome Study Finds Link Between Congenital Heart and Brain Disorders
  P&S researcher Wendy Chung and colleagues find genetic mutations that explain why many children with congenital heart disease also have neurodevelopmental disorders.
• Flame Retardant Exposure May Lead to Attention Problems in Children
  Pediatric researchers examine the effects of prenatal exposure to PBDEs, a chemical found in common flame retardants, on children's development. 
• Magnet Replaces the Scalpel for Treating Kids with Early-Onset Scoliosis
  Children with early-onset scoliosis can be treated with a magnetic device that lengthens growing rods without twice-a-year surgery.
• CUIMC Joins Food Allergy Research Network
  Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital serve as a clinical trial site for pediatric patients with food allergies as part of the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) Clinical Network.
• Meet the Girl with Gene NUP 214-ABL1
  How Columbia physicians found the cause of Myrrah Shapoo's cancer, deep in her DNA.
• Text Message Reminders Increase Second Dose of Flu Vaccinations in Children
  Study by pediatrician Melissa Stockwell, MD, MPH, found that text message reminders helped increase young children's likelihood of receiving second dose of flu vaccine.
• Fecal Transplants Are a Success for Kids with Severe C. Diff
  Pediatric specialists Esi Lamouse-Smith, MD, PhD, and Norelle Reilly, MD, are making clinical advances in the treatment of children with a debilitating gastrointestinal condition.

Our Expertise at Large

Due to our groundbreaking research and reputation as innovators, our doctors are featured in the media and tapped to share insights on the latest developments and trends in medicine and healthcare. They have discussed peanut allergy guidelines for babies on The Dr. Oz Show, been profiled by The Wall Street Journal for solving medical mysteries, and offered perspective on declining deaths from childhood cancer in The New York Times.