Seattle Children's Research Institute and tech giant Microsoft collaborated on research investigating the causes of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Their study suggests that genetic testing at birth may help identify a child's risk of SIDS. This finding was discussed during an event in Washington, gathering over 155 researchers to explore insights into potential SIDS causes, as it remains a leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S. and other developed nations.
The research included whole-genome sequencing of 145 infants who died of SIDS, funded by the Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foundation at Seattle Children's Research Institute. The study, soon to be published in the American Journal of Medical Genetics, identified novel genes associated with SIDS, some critical for detecting and responding to low oxygen levels in body tissues. Children with these genes might be at higher risk, especially when sleeping face down, aligning with the long-held medical belief about the correlation between SIDS and sleeping positions.
John Kahan, former vice president and chief data analytics officer at Microsoft and co-founder of the Aaron Matthew SIDS Research Foundation, highlighted the collaboration's significance in using genetic data to predict SIDS risk, potentially leading to preventive treatments.
In broader contexts, Seattle Children's Research Institute received a $29 million grant in 2022 to enhance pandemic readiness and address health disparities highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, investments in nursing equity and the development of AI technologies, such as Orca 2 and Phi-2 from Microsoft's AI for Good Lab, aim to support various sectors in addressing challenges and advancing research. Furthermore, a recent $50 million donation to Seattle Children's Research Institute supports leukaemia research, focusing on paediatric immunotherapy cancer research and clinical trials.
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