Children's Hospital of Orange County

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- University Lab Partners (ULP) is proud to announce the winners of the 4th annual Pitch. Launch. Grow. competition, a hallmark event that continues to spotlight innovation in life sciences, medical technology, and pediatrics. This year's competition attracted over 40 applications, with startups competing for recognition across three specialized tracks. Continue Reading The winners in the Life Science and Medical Technology tracks each receive a one-year sponsored lab bench at University Lab Partners, the premier wet lab incubator in Irvine, California. The Pediatric track winner will not only receive the lab bench sponsorship but also a $2,500 prize from the Consortium for Technology & Innovation in Pediatrics (CTIP)—an FDA-funded pediatric device accelerator—and a one-hour virtual mentorship session with Dr. Terence Sanger, MD, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at CHOC Research. ULP's Pitch. Launch. Grow. competition spotlights innovation in life sciences, medical technology, and pediatrics. Post this Dr. Sanger commended all participants, stating, "We extend our heartfelt gratitude to every founder in the Pediatric Device track. Your dedication and innovative spirit are exactly what the Pitch. Launch. Grow. competition aims to foster." Pitch. Launch. Grow. 2024 Winners: Life Science - Hybrid Biotherapeutics Inc. & Cellecho Biotech Medical Technology - Syntr Health Technologies, Inc. & iPill Dispenser Pediatric - Remmie Health ULP's life science startups are provided with unparalleled access to professional mentoring, consulting with Experts-in-Residence, networking events, and unique access to UCI's technical core facilities. Since its inception in 2019, ULP has incubated 64 companies that have collectively raised over $535 million, successfully graduating eight startups into the broader market. Konstantin Kazarian, CEO at Hybrid-Bio, shared, "As developers of a new solid tumor cell therapy, we're thrilled by the interest the competition brought us. This recognition means a lot to Hybrid Biotherapeutics, and we look forward to collaborating with ULP and utilizing their state-of-the-art laboratory facilities." The 2024 Pitch. Launch. Grow. winners were selected by a distinguished panel of judges, representing leading organizations including Johnson & Johnson, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, CHOC, General Inception, Woodgreen Ventures, Xinetix, and D2M Venture Development. Pitch. Launch. Grow. is made possible thanks to the generous sponsorship of Sunstone Management, Insperity, HATCHspaces, NexCore Group, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati. For more information, please visit About University Lab Partners: University Lab Partners (ULP) is a premier, nonprofit, wet lab incubator located in Orange County, CA. ULP operates 2 facilities in Irvine and Aliso Viejo, CA. ULP offers highly equipped wet lab facilities along with the benefits of accelerator services and peer-to-peer interactions among a life science-focused entrepreneurial community. SOURCE University Lab Partners

A gift from Sherry and John Phelan will advance whole-child wellness by providing lifestyle, dietary and psychological support ORANGE, Calif., July 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A generous gift will help establish an innovative integrative gastroenterology multidisciplinary clinic and a culinary medicine program at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), enhancing the treatment of children with gastroenterological conditions by adding evidence-based integrative care aided by food and nutrition. Thanks to the generosity of Sherry and John Phelan, the program will provide patients with coordinated, holistic care and the dietary, emotional and psychosocial support they need to cope with their symptoms and ultimately find relief, health and healing. These additions will incorporate multidisciplinary specialties such as psychology, nutrition and complementary medicine into CHOC's already robust gastroenterology program. "We are incredibly grateful for the visionary support of Sherry and John Phelan," said Dr. Ashish Chogle, who is medical director of gastroenterology at CHOC and will lead the new programs. "Their generous gift underscores their continued commitment to holistic healthcare and dedication to making a difference in the lives of innumerable children. Their generosity will help CHOC emerge as a true leader in pediatric integrative healthcare. Our care model will deliver better outcomes and an elevated family experience. Ultimately, we hope to influence public health strategies and foster widespread acceptance of holistic health practices, including using food as medicine in pediatric care." The Phelans' generous gift will allow the integrative gastroenterology clinic to be held weekly to support patients with various conditions, including chronic abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, gastrointestinal motility disorders, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), constipation, and nutrition- and obesity-related issues. Thanks to the gift, numerous patients will benefit from a pediatric psychologist trained in cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and hypnotherapy; a dedicated pediatric dietician; and other clinicians trained in various integrative treatment modalities. Additionally aligned with the philosophy that food is medicine, the generous gift will establish the foundation for a culinary medicine program to support CHOC gastroenterology patients. The program will include educational workshops led by medical chefs. Longtime supporters of CHOC, John and Sherry Phelan have previously supported the healthcare system's mental health, child life, neonatology and research programs. "We are excited to support this comprehensive program at CHOC and have all the confidence in the team, which is rapidly moving this concept into action with a brilliant clinician and staff and plan in place," said Sherry Phelan, PhD, an organizational psychologist and artist who integrates her psychology training into her art. Dr. Phelan also chairs the Advisory Board of UCI's Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. About CHOC: CHOC, a pediatric healthcare system based in Orange County, California, is committed to being a leading destination for children's health by providing exceptional and innovative care. Our growing community includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo and a regional network of primary and specialty care clinics serving children and families in four counties. CHOC offers several clinical programs of excellence providing the highest levels of care for the most serious pediatric illnesses and injuries, both physical and mental. Our research and innovation institutes are focused on translating real patient needs into real-world treatments so every child can live the healthiest and happiest life possible. To learn more, visit . SOURCE Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)

ORANGE, Calif., June 12, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A $7 million gift to Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) will expand school-based access to health and wellness resources, and grow the enterprise's pediatric mental health system of care. The generosity of Swenson Family Foundation will help expand CHOC's WellSpace initiative into Orange County elementary schools, including K-8 campuses. A partnership between CHOC and the Orange County Department of Education, WellSpaces are dedicated environments currently at 40 schools. WellSpaces feature biophilic and trauma-informed design where students can unwind and connect with health and wellness resources, including school-based staff with foundational knowledge in mental health. In addition to adding multiple WellSpaces to schools in coming years, the gift will establish dozens of WellCorners in elementary and K-8 schools. These smaller scale, classroom-based spaces will help younger children learn coping mechanisms and practice social-emotional learning skills right inside their usual learning environment. CHOC mental health clinicians will work with schools to help them maximize the effectiveness of the WellSpaces and WellCorners. This WellSpace expansion and WellCorner launch will allow CHOC to partner with educators in selecting tools and resources that work well for younger students. Additionally, the growth will allow for the integration of other CHOC support services – such as Help Me Grow – into WellSpaces and WellCorners to aid parents in promoting their children's healthy development. "We are so grateful to the Swenson Family Foundation for their incredible generosity," said Dr. Michael Weiss, CHOC's vice president of population health. "This significant gift will allow us to provide even greater support to children where they are and when they need it. The no. 1 place where children are is at schools, and we are proud to partner with educators throughout the county to help meet the whole needs of children." Additionally, through the generosity of the Swenson Family Foundation, CHOC will also establish a mental health navigation system that will support children who are showing risk of suicidal ideation while being screened in CHOC's primary and specialty care clinics. The system will help youth and families better understand which services might best suit their needs and direct them to an appropriate level of care, whether that be at CHOC or elsewhere in the community. Ensuring that mental healthcare is seamlessly integrated into all other aspects of pediatric healthcare, the new navigation system will provide a pediatric psychologist to perform screenings for children in need of services. This will allow CHOC to serve families even faster and direct them to the right level of care. Additionally, a resource specialist will support families and connect them to outpatient services, if warranted. A social worker will also be available to screen children and provide guidance to families. The mental health system can be challenging to navigate and these additional resources can help children get the care they need as quickly and easily as possible. "Suicide is the second-leading cause of death for 10 to 19 year olds, so being able to screen and determine the appropriate level of treatment for these kids is critical," said Dr. Heather Huszti, CHOC's chief psychologist. "We are so grateful to the Swenson Family Foundation's most generous gift, which is truly a lifesaving investment in the children of our community." The Swenson Family Foundation's gift deepens a treasured relationship between the Orange County-based organization and CHOC that began nearly 30 years ago with a $5.4 million gift that established the Swenson Family Foundation Family Assistance Endowment Fund. The endowment's emergency funds ensure CHOC patients and their families have access to critical resources such as food vouchers, gas cards and bus passes. Without this support, many families would not be able to utilize CHOC's comprehensive care and lifesaving treatments. "We've been so impressed by CHOC's initial efforts to address the mental health of kids at the high school level in Orange County," said Susan Swenson, president of the Swenson Family Foundation. "Our goal with this gift is to address the mental wellness needs of younger children so their situations do not go unaddressed or escalate, especially to a crisis point. We're certain that healthier 'whole' children – physically and mentally – will be the result of these vital efforts." She adds, "In time, entire school campuses will become 'well spaces' as teachers and administrators become more aware and adopt what they and the students learn through this unique partnership with CHOC. Schools will be enriched and lives will be saved." About CHOC: CHOC, a pediatric healthcare system based in Orange County, California, is committed to being a leading destination for children's health by providing exceptional and innovative care. Our growing community includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo and a regional network of primary and specialty care clinics serving children and families in four counties. CHOC offers several clinical programs of excellence providing the highest levels of care for the most serious pediatric illnesses and injuries, both physical and mental. Our research and innovation institutes are focused on translating real patient needs into real-world treatments so every child can live the healthiest and happiest life possible. To learn more, visit . SOURCE Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)