Virginia Tech

Children's National Hospital has joined forces with Virginia Tech, including its Fralin Biomedical Research Institute (FBRI), to establish a groundbreaking partnership at the Children's National Research & Innovation Campus in Washington, D.C. This collaboration is set on a 12-acre portion of the former Walter Reed Army Medical Center and represents the nation's first innovation campus dedicated exclusively to pediatric research.

The campus includes a dedicated floor for the new FBRI Cancer Research Center – DC, led by Virginia Tech physician-scientist Chris Hourigan, D.M., D.Phil., F.R.C.P., who recently relocated his cancer research program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), as well as an additional floor for the research laboratories of the Children’s National Brain Tumor Institute (BTI), which is co-led by Roger Packer, M.D., and Catherine Bollard, M.D., M.B.Ch.B., who also directs the Center for Cancer and Immunology Research. BTI houses both VT and Children's National faculty to enhance research and collaboration.

Collaborative Research Efforts

The partnership catalyzes researchers from both institutions working together to advance novel treatments for pediatric diseases, particularly cancer. The labs of Jia-Ray Yu, Ph.D., and Kathleen Mulvaney, Ph.D., are two of the research groups that are part of Virginia Tech’s FBRI Cancer Research Center – DC, focusing on understanding the mechanisms of oncogenesis and cellular signaling pathways in cancer, respectively. In addition, the joint recruitment of Fred Wu, M.D., Ph.D., from Columbia University represents a unique partnership that integrates research on low-intensity focused ultrasound for brain tumors from preclinical models to clinical trials.

The campus' strategic location in the nation's capital places it at the heart of the Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia Life Science and Biotech corridor. This proximity to major federal agencies like the NIH, Food and Drug Administration and Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority enhances the campus's ability to foster partnerships across academia, government, industry and the community. The campus is also part of a larger ecosystem that includes the Johnson & Johnson Innovation – JLABS network, which supports start-up companies working on new pharmaceuticals, medtech and health-related technology.

A Hub for Innovation and Economic Growth

The partnership between Children's National and Virginia Tech is a beacon for pediatric research and an economic catalyst for the region. It is expected to attract big ideas and create a hotbed for innovation by bringing together business, academia, healthcare and government.

The campus is poised to become a magnet for innovation, with ongoing projects that promise to strengthen Children's National's leading role in pediatric healthcare at local, national and international levels. The partnership with Virginia Tech supports the hospital's mission and amplifies its impact through collaboration with a nationally prominent research university and the development of precision medicine approaches.

The partnership between Children's National and Virginia Tech at the campus is a strategic alliance that leverages the strengths of both institutions to accelerate pediatric research and innovation, with the ultimate goal of improving the lives of children worldwide.