Seriously Ill Children Given New Hope Thanks To Groundbreaking Pediatric Genomic Research And Translational Precision Medicine Institute

PHOENIX, Oct. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong joined Phoenix Children's Hospital today to announce the formation of a visionary institute, The Chan Soon-Shiong Children's Precision Medicine Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital.

The new partnership brings together the medical expertise and resources of renowned surgeon and health care technology visionary Patrick Soon-Shiong, MD, with Phoenix Children's commitment to genomic research and access to a large pediatric patient base. The institute will transform the pediatric health care landscape by applying state-of-the-art genomic and proteomic technology to identify precision diagnoses, treatments and cures for young patients facing serious illnesses.

"Our goal is to bring genomics research to the forefront of pediatrics," said Robert L. Meyer, president and CEO of Phoenix Children's Hospital. "With Dr. Soon-Shiong's transformative technology implemented at Phoenix Children's, the realization of all children having access to life-saving precision medicine becomes one step closer."

Soon-Shiong is the founder of Nantworks, largely dedicated to applying genomic and proteomic analysis studies to translate diagnoses and cures more quickly and accurately. To date, his efforts have been focused on the adult population. Through this institute, Phoenix Children's will serve as the exclusive national hub for pediatric genomic research and translational precision medicine.

"Phoenix Children's is unique among children's hospitals," noted Dr. Soon-Shiong. "The leadership and the board of this hospital are leading their peers in health care by executing on an operational principle of patient centered 21^st century care. They have attracted talented researchers and clinical scientists and have demonstrated their ability to advance a vision for precision medicine in pediatrics."

At the crux of this revolutionary undertaking is super computing cloud based technology and artificial intelligence. Phoenix Children's will be home to one of the few dedicated supercomputers in the country, which can deliver genomic sequencing and analysis more quickly than ever before. Appropriate patients undergo full genome sequencing and proteomics analysis in an unprecedented seven days.

"Current genome sequencing takes time," added Meyer. "And that's something that these patients don't have. The mission is to develop innovative and effective diagnostics and therapies for young patients, while empowering physicians with the most up-to-date research and therapeutic models available, all to deliver potentially life-saving treatments."

Often, existing treatment protocols lack efficacy for patients; this new genomic analysis will alter that dynamic through specific and targeted therapeutic remedies based on the individual's unique genetic makeup. In time, Soon-Shiong's technology will lead to a comprehensive genomic database platform, from which a shared information consortium will be integrated into a global diagnosis, treatment, and result-based methodology. A vast bank of pediatric patient data will be generated via a consortium of children's hospitals, led by Phoenix Children's.

"The Chan Soon-Shiong Children's Precision Medicine Institute will fundamentally alter the way pediatric health care is delivered around the world," said Meyer.

About Phoenix Children's Hospital
Phoenix Children's Hospital is Arizona's only children's hospital that is ranked in U.S. News & World Report's Best Children's Hospitals. Phoenix Children's provides world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children's hospitals in the country, Phoenix Children's provides care across more than 75 pediatric specialties. The Hospital is poised for continued growth in quality patient care, research and medical education. For more information, visit www.phoenixchildrens.org.

About The Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine (CSSIOMM)
The CSSIOMM is a 501c(3) non-profit medical research and support organization focused on transforming medical practice by facilitating digital molecular diagnosis. CSSIOMM is building a coalition dedicated to collaborating with healthcare, academic, government, and private sector partners to enable evidence based and molecularly driven, clinical decisions. The mission of CSSIOMM is to facilitate transformation of health systems to focus on health not just healthcare, and to create a culture of caring.  The goal of the CSSIOMM is to improve the lives of the people and communities served by their local health systems for generations to come.

SOURCE Phoenix Children's Hospital