Breakthrough Boston Children's

In part one of this episode, Boston Children's experts described the state of the youth mental health crisis in the U.S. One thing that’s painfully clear? Missing a mental illness diagnosis can be severe, and even fatal. Predictive screening tools along with innovative methods for examining brain function and patterns over time are just a few of the ways Boston Children’s is at the forefront of the solution.

There is a youth mental health crisis in the United States. In some cases, 30 percent to 40 percent of pediatric and emergency room visits are dedicated to mental health. Boston Children’s research into biological factors, environmental triggers and inequitable systems is uncovering how we got here.

No two hearts are alike. And for children born with heart defects, there’s no one-size-fits-all surgical approach. But collaborations between cardiac surgeons and engineers, along with advancements in 3D modeling technology, mean experts can plan and simulate surgeries with precision — before anyone even enters the operating room — creating solutions personalized for every patient’s unique anatomy.

Epilepsy is one of the most debilitating chronic neurological conditions in the world, affecting 1 in 26 people. Until very recently, finding causes of the disease has been a major barrier to treatment. Recent work from Boston Children’s has found that the answer often lies in the patient’s genes.

About 10 percent of the U.S. population has a rare genetic condition. From computational biologists to geneticists, Boston Children’s scientists are working across departments to create new, accessible and personalized diagnosis and treatment processes for many previously mysterious genetic diseases.

Pain is a complex sensation. It has both physiological and psychological components that make it agonizing to describe and to manage. Boston Children’s pain researchers can now model pain in a petri dish, allowing their team of experts to reimagine clinical diagnoses and treatment for pain patients.