Kansas City, KS-The University of Kansas Health System announced the sunset of its Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) due to low patient volume (150 patients last year, 1.1 daily average). The decision aims to reallocate space to growing neonatal care. Collaboration with Children's Mercy Hospital will continue with research, education, and pediatric care as it has the past 26 years.
After the PICU update, the discussion also continued highlighting cystic fibrosis (CF) research, focusing on patients who don't respond to Trikafta. Jason White, a CF patient, shared his experience with gene therapy trials. The program emphasized the importance of clinical trials and personalized medicine in advancing CF treatment.
Dr. Sean Kumer, Chief Medical Officer, Kansas City Division, The University of Kansas Health System
Dr. Kumer shares the decision was made to use the PICU space for other patient populations, particularly newborns needing intensive care.
Rachel Pepper, Chief Nursing Officer, Kansas City Division, The University of Kansas Health System
- Rachel talks about how the collaboration between the two hospitals has been strengthened over the years, with joint programs in many areas including cancer and the NICU.
Steph Meyer, Chief Nursing Executive & Chief Operating Officer, Acute Care
Children's Mercy Kansas City
Steph Meyer discusses the increasing demand for complex care in pediatric intensive care and the need for more resource-intensive care.
Gene Therapy Trial and Personalized Medicine with CF Patients
Jason White, Patient
Jason tells his story of being a “late bloomer” with cystic fibrosis.
He describes his participation in the gene therapy trial, including the initial dosing and follow-up regimen.
Dr. Joel Mermis, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The University of Kansas Health System
Dr Mermis says the gene therapy trial involves nebulizing DNA to produce the CFTR F508del protein, which is crucial for patients with certain mutations.
Dr. Matthias Solitaire, Chief Science Officer, The University of Kansas Health System
Dr. Solitaire explains the process of theratyping, which involves testing the CFTR F508del protein's function in cells to determine the patient's response to therapies.