Advancing Pediatric Heart Care: Highlights from the 2026 Children’s National Cardiac Research Symposium
On February 6, 2026, Children’s National Hospital hosted its second annual Cardiac Research Symposium at the Research and Innovation Campus, bringing together leading clinicians, scientists and researchers from across the US and Europe to showcase innovations in pediatric and congenital heart care. The symposium highlighted how collaboration and discovery are driving improvements for children and families.
The symposium was organized around four key themes:
- Artificial Intelligence in Cardiology: Researchers shared how AI is transforming diagnosis and treatment, from predicting Kawasaki Disease outcomes to improving survival in critical heart conditions.
- Genetics & Environment: Experts explored the impact of genetics, environmental exposures, and industrial contaminants on congenital heart health.
- Heart Start: Presentations highlighted family-centered research in the pediatric cardiac ICU, including stress reduction programs for parents, the benefits of feeding post-operative cardiac infants with human milk, and skin-to-skin care initiatives.
- Exercise & Rehabilitation: The latest findings from pediatric cardiac rehabilitation, including the QUALIREHAB trial, demonstrated ways to improve activity, outcomes and quality of life for young patients.
In addition to the presentations, the event featured poster sessions highlighting emerging research in areas such as fitness assessment, preventive cardiology and novel surgical techniques.
The symposium reflects Children’s National’s commitment to turning research into real-world impact — bringing innovations from the bench to the bedside, impacting outcomes and creating new possibilities for patients with congenital heart conditions.
