In order to deliver the best care to children, we have made research a critical part of the mission at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. We do research at Children's Research Institute to help identify the causes of injuries, illnesses and birth defects. We look for new ways to prevent and treat these conditions.

Children are not just small adults. They are quite different in how they act, think, get sick or injured and respond to treatments. Still, the majority of our treatments used in sick kids only have been clinically proven in adults. As a result, most drugs used in kids today are just lower doses of adult medications.

As we have learned over time, kids and adults don't always respond to medication the same way. While it may seem dangerous to try a drug not approved in children, it simply is that there are very few other options. Until we do the research with children to find out if a drug works and is safe, physicians have to do what they think is best for the sick child with the treatments available.

All research at Children's Hospital is reviewed by our Institutional Review Board to ensure that the research is safe, ethical and scientifically valid. The HRRB is made up of physicians, scientists, non-scientists and representatives of the community. Every study is carefully considered to make sure that researchers keep the risks as low as possible, and that they have the potential to benefit pediatric care. The child/parent perspective always is taken into consideration when studies are reviewed.

Participation in research is optional and completely up to you and your family to decide. You do not have to participate, but if you choose to, what we learn from your participation may help us to better understand diseases, or find cures. If you would like to hear about research options, ask your caregivers for more information.