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Center for Child and Family Research

Child with arms up smiling

Center for Child and Family Research

Children & families need special research

The approval of safe and effective treatments for use in babies, toddlers, children, teens, and pregnant and breastfeeding parents is not possible without clinical trials that are designed with their body’s specific needs in mind. Research expands our medical knowledge, giving us the power to better understand, prevent and treat childhood illnesses and pregnancy-related conditions that negatively impact the health and quality of life of your children and family.

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Age matters

Children’s bodies process medicine differently than adults, but many medicines used today were never tested for safety in children. Your child’s health needs also change as they grow and develop from babies to teens.

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Meeting the needs of both mom and baby

Very few medications have been tested for safety during pregnancy. Yet more than half of all pregnant people are prescribed medicine to treat chronic illness or pregnancy-related conditions.

Improving child & family health

At the Center for Child and Family Research, we carefully select quality clinical trials and design innovative academic research studies to make certain we’re addressing unmet medical needs and raising the standard of health care for children and families living in our communities and beyond.

Through this work, our scientists and researchers contribute to:

  • The approval of new medicines, therapies and medical devices that give children and families access to treatments that are safe and effective for every age and stage in life
  • A deeper understanding of childhood and maternal conditions that may ultimately lead to new and better treatments and prevention strategies
  • Improved health, well-being and quality of life for children and families

Let’s invest in children & families

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Clinical trials

We provide a full range of research support services and are a member of the Institute for Advanced Clinical Trials for Children, a global pediatric clinical trials network of first-class, trial-ready institutions working together to advance treatments for children.

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Academic research

Our research scientists lead academic research programs and collaborate with other health organizations to improve care for children and parents. We’re helping to advance the understanding and treatment of childhood illness and conditions affecting families.

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Research participation

We’re committed to offering our patients leading-edge treatments and medications, including additional options through research, and providing the best, evidence-based care for families and children at every stage of life.

Nationally recognized health care close to home

Child and family research is offered at Advocate Aurora Health sites of care conveniently located within the communities we serve, including Advocate Children’s Hospital and Aurora Sinai Medical Center.

Advocate Children’s Hospital

We're one of the 10 largest networks of children's health care providers in the nation. Our dedicated pediatric specialists are uniquely qualified to care for children with critical and complex conditions at multiple inpatient and ambulatory locations. And, as part of the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance, we offer even greater access to children’s health care specialists and programs.

Visit Advocate Children’s Hospital

Aurora Sinai Medical Center

Specializing in comprehensive women’s health care with expert doctors and state-of-the-art services, we provide exceptional care for women with high-risk pregnancies and babies who are critically ill and born prematurely. Aurora Sinai is also home to the largest midwifery practice in downtown Milwaukee. 

Visit Aurora Sinai Medical Center

A valued partner in child and family research

Proud to be an important contributor to advancing health care worldwide