SC Portland Outcomes Report 2023

BASIC RESEARCH Conducting contemporary, meticulous and innovative research to improve patient treatment and care and increase the body of medical knowledge and understanding of injury and disease is the cornerstone of the overall mission of Shriners Children’s. Over the years, our researchers have made major, significant breakthroughs, improving the care and quality of life for millions of children with these conditions. BIOMARKER ‘CXM’ In order to provide the best care, it’s important for each child’s care team to understand how quickly their bones are growing, because, depending on a child’s condition, the rate of their growth can determine when the best time is for them to receive care. In 2017, the Shriners Children’s Portland research team, led by William Horton, M.D., made an innovative discovery that impacts how physicians are able to track a child’s rate of growth. Through a simple finger prick blood test, the research team discovered a protein (which they’ve named the biomarker CXM) that mirrors the child’s rate of bone growth. By using the biomarker CXM, physicians are able to quickly predict the rate of the child’s growth, and they can immediately make decisions about the medical care plan for their patients. Since the discovery of the biomarker CXM, Michelle Welborn, M.D., has analyzed how this finger prick blood test could help her provide the best care for patients who have scoliosis and other spine conditions. “Assessing a patient’s growth is a vital factor in determining the treatment for patients with scoliosis,” said Dr. Welborn. “By determining the rate of growth in real time, we can make sure that we are bracing patients for the correct amount of time, and that we are performing surgery at the optimal time. The utilization of biomarker CXM will enable us to build the best possible plan of treatment for patients, and it can minimize the amount of surgeries needed.” CLINICAL RESEARCH In our clinical research department, we examine new treatment modalities, as well as outcomes associated with treatment, in order to continuously improve the clinical treatment and care of our patients. The clinical research department at the Shriners Children’s Portland provides a comprehensive infrastructure that supports internal investigators in every stage of the research process. In addition, the department provides centralized management and oversight functions related to the activation and conduct of clinical trials.

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