Discovery doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when curious minds collide, and that’s exactly what unfolded at our organization.
Our first Research Symposium, co-chaired by Dr. Roy Sillitoe and Dr. Michael Curtis, brought team members together from across every department under one theme: Advancing Health through Collaborations, Discoveries and Transformational Therapies. With 350 abstracts showcased, this special day reflected the depth of science taking shape across our organization and the collaborative future we’re building together.
That collaborative energy carried to the keynote stage, where Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi and Dr. Katherine King shared advances reshaping pediatric care. Dr. Zhandong Liu and Dr. Ananth Annapragada led a workshop on AI in research, pointing to where our science is headed next.
A defining moment came when Dr. Huda Zoghbi received the inaugural Texas Children’s Lifetime Research Impact Award. The honor recognizes team members whose work has driven transformative impact across our community, the nation and the world, reflecting our sustained commitment to research that improves the lives of patients and families across the globe.
Other team members earned recognition for their contributions to advancing pediatric medicine and research:
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Pediatric Infectious Diseases Physician Dr. Katherine King, Keynote Lecturer Award
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Assistant Professor of Radiology Dr. Andrew Badachhape, Oral Research Presenter Award
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Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Jennifer Clinton, Oral Research Presenter Award
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Orthopedic Research Assistant Dr. Zina Smadi, Oral Research Presenter Award
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Neuroscience Trainee Lauren Peacoe, Oral Research Presenter Award
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Assistant Professor of Maternal-Fetal Medicine Dr. Michael Jochum, Oral Research Presenter Award
“Serving as co-chair for Texas Children’s inaugural Research Symposium was a special honor,” Dr. Sillitoe said. “It provided a unique opportunity to bring together our diverse scientific communities for a truly outstanding day of idea-sharing and collaboration. The symposium sets the stage for a new way Texas Children’s conducts research, one reflected in the launch of the Texas Children’s Research Institute, grounded in collaboration, multidisciplinary and collective excellence. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and this symposium was our way of living that philosophy through science.”
Congratulations to our honorees and every team member who contributed to planning the event. The Research Symposium is more than a milestone for our organization. It’s our promise to keep breaking down silos, accelerating discovery and transforming what’s possible for the patients and families we serve.
