A new Pitt institute will improve pediatric health and research

The Institute of Infection, Inflammation and Immunity in Children — i4Kids for short — is a new strategic research effort focused on improving pediatric health by combating infectious and inflammatory diseases through accelerating new multi-disciplinary collaborations across the health sciences, natural and physical sciences, and computer science. 

The institute is being led by John Williams, Henry L. Hillman Endowed Chair in Pediatric Immunology, professor of pediatrics at Pitt and the institute’s director

Infection is the leading cause of death in children under 5 worldwide, and infectious and inflammatory diseases are the leading causes of child hospitalization in the US. i4Kids aims to become the epicenter of research, discovery, prevention and treatment of these diseases in children as the foundation of improving the health of future generations. 

The institute will host a launch symposium on Feb. 11, 2020, from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Rangos Research Auditorium at Children’s Hospital. The institute is working with the Children’s Hospital Foundation to invite leaders of foundations and philanthropists across the nation.