TS-002302 — Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) causes myeloid cells to interfere with the production of healthy white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets; patients will experience fatigue, easy bruising, infections, etc. Due to expansion ex vivo with IL-15, AML patients and donors’ natural killer (NK) cells have an increase in glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β) from the loss of cytotoxicity and defective metabolism. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital targeted GSK3β in NK cells to promote antitumor activity by expanding NK cells with feeder cells expressing membrane-bound IL-21 without altering the GSK3β levels. They deleted GSK3β using the cas9/RNP and expanding paired-donor knock out and wild-type NK cells. When assessing transcriptional and functional alterations induced by the loss of GSK3β, GSK3β-KO cells demonstrated changes in gene expressions that suggested possible metabolic reprogramming and exhibited 150% higher spare respiratory capacity, a marker for metabolic fitness. By using mbIL21 expansion in the expansion of NK cells and GSK3β in these cells, the upregulation of GSK and drug inhibitors is prevented.

TS-002301 — CD38 regulates the metabolism and the immunomodulation of tumor microenvironments, making it an essential component to anti-cancer therapies. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital developed a novel technology using CD38 as a new insertion site for NK and T cells. They generated CAR-NK and CAR-T cells by integrating the DNA encoding CAR in the CD38 locus to enhance anti-tumor activity and improve metabolic function of NK and T cells. Additionally, this can be used in combination with CD38 monoclonal antibodies without risking fratricide.

TS-002300 — Hematologic cancers like leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma are found in 10% of adult cancer cases and 25% in pediatric cancer cases. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Center for Childhood Cancer have developed a novel single-chain variable fragment (scFv) that targets and binds to CD38. The scFv can generate CD38 binding proteins, including chimeric antigen receptors (CAR), single-chain antibodies, multi-specific engagers, etc. Additionally, the single-chain variable fragments can be incorporated into polyfunctional proteins and have identical binding properties as CD38 antibodies which are used as anti-cancer therapeutics.

TS-002167 — Research links increased expression of neuregulin-1 (NRG1) to neurological disorders (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism spectrum disorder, epilepsy, etc.), cancers (breast, prostate, lung, gastric cancers), metabolic syndrome and multiple sclerosis. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital developed a treatment to manipulate mammalian gene expression with bacterial extracellular vesicles. This treatment based on outer membrane vesicles (OMV) modulates expression of NRG1 by using porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) tRNA and NRG1 mRNA to reduce NRG1 translation. Pg and closely related pathogens produce OMVs that contain proteins, lipids, nucleic acids and cytosolic compounds. Through metagenomic sequencing, researchers found that Pg OMVs contain tRNA that complements mammalian NRG1 mRNA. They also found that the tRNA can potentially stop the translation of NRG1. This complementation indicates a direct interaction between Pg tRNA and NRG1 mRNA which results in the reduction of NRG1.

TS-002166 — Education and awareness about mental health increased the demand for better digital programs so health care professionals can reach patients outside the clinical setting. Researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital created a program that sends multimedia text messages to encourage positive thinking and to reduce chances of readmission to behavioral health hospitals.

TS-002165 — Children have higher self-esteem when their needs are supported, which includes hair care. In 2020, staff members reported their knowledge gaps and lack of confidence and supplies regarding patient hair care. As a result, the Hair Care Equity Project was created at Nationwide Children’s Hospital to combat these challenges and to create a more inclusive environment for patients through education and product research. The Hair Care Equity Committee worked with vendors and dermatologists to carefully select products for trials and final selection. Now, staff members can access and order supplies for patients with all hair types.

TS-002164 — Congenital heart defects (CHD) are the most common birth defects with an occurrence rate of 1 in every 110 births. When transferring from pediatric to adult care, one-third of adolescents are in optimal cardiovascular health. Due to this, health behavior intervention is ideal in adolescence. This is especially crucial when youths report using e-cigarettes or the possibility of using one in the future. Researcher, Kristen Fox, at Nationwide Children’s Hospital created a tailored mHealth Vaping Prevention program for adolescents with CHD to reduce engagement with health risk behaviors. The curriculum is improved with added topics surrounding stress management and disease knowledge with the implementation of gamification and animations to facilitate knowledge and sustain engagement about tobacco product education.

TS-002163 — Researchers and professionals beginning their careers in pediatrics and/or rare disease clinical research sites may feel overwhelmed in the face of innovation, new territories and lifechanging research. A team of Certified Clinical Research Professionals at Nationwide Children’s Hospital created three additional modules for the Clinical Research Onboarding Program – The Survival Guide and an opportunity to access a Gene Therapy Immersion Program. Through this reference manual, the team hopes to share lessons and provide guidance on working in pediatrics clinical research for all learners.

TS-002162 — Dr. Jonathon Gisser, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, researched and created a process called Gastric Secretion Reinfusion (GSR) to help salvage gastric fluids by reinfusing them into the jejunum. Gastrojejunostomy (GJ) tubes cause increased vomiting and/or gastric drainage in patients due to gastric outlet obstruction. The small intestine needs gastric fluids to prevent dehydration, dysmotility, malabsorption, malnutrition, electrolyte imbalances and increased gastric output because they are rich in electrolytes, enzymes and hormones. Currently, gastric fluids are typically discarded and replaced by nutrient-impoverished, exogenous fluids like intravenous fluids (IV). By implementing the Gastric Secretion Reinfusion technique, patients will experience decreased incidences of electrolyte abnormalities, vomiting and reliance on parenteral access and Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN). Additionally, they will also experience an increase in tolerance of jejunal feeds and improved nutrition.

TS-002160 — Dysphagia affects 300,000 to 700,000 Americans every year. Individuals of any age can suffer with dysphagia which increases the demand for education and information. Providers working with individuals with dysphagia require easy, quick access to education and information regarding implementing the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI). Clinicians at Nationwide Children’s Hospital created the IDDSI Implementation Manual and Education. The manual provides healthcare providers with specific implementation steps, instructions and details to guide teams to successfully integrate IDDSI in their healthcare organization quickly along with additional supplemental educational materials.