What to expect at Research, Education & Innovation Week 2023

The Children's National Research Institute is excited to host the 13th annual Research, Education & Innovation Week from April 17-21, 2023. This week-long celebration will showcase the wide array of research and education programs occurring throughout the institution and beyond.

What to expect

REI Week 2023 will feature a variety of events and activities, including:

• Poster sessions: Over 365 poster presentations will be on display Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-3 p.m. at the Costco Wholesale Atrium on the first floor of the main hospital campus. They will showcase the latest research being conducted at Children's National on topics ranging from adolescent medicine to oncology and more.
• Guest lectures: Renowned experts, including those from our Research & Innovation Campus partners JLABS @ Washington, DC and Virginia Tech, will give lectures on a variety of topics related to research, education and innovation. All keynote lectures will be available via Zoom, offering Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit.
• Educational workshops: Hands-on workshops will be offered on a variety of topics, such as medical education, research tools and leadership.
• Panel discussions: Panel discussions will feature experts from different fields discussing current issues in mental health.
• Social events: There will be a variety of social events throughout the week, such as Meals and Meditation and the closing remarks and award ceremony.

We also invite you to join Seacrest Studios on Tuesday, April 18, from 2-2:30 p.m. as they host a story hour with Nikki Posnack, Ph.D., Scientist.  Patients can tune into channel 90 in their room or at the main atrium stage to hear a live reading of Ada Twist Scientist. Kids and families are welcome to join or call in with questions to talk to a Children’s National Heart Scientist. 

Mental Health: Building Resilience

The theme for REI Week 2023 is "Mental Health: Building Resilience." This theme was chosen in recognition of the importance of mental health and the need to build resilience in children and adolescents.

Mental health is a critical part of overall health and well-being. Children and adolescents who experience mental health problems are more likely to have difficulty in school, in relationships and in their overall development. Our lectures and panels will focus on this important topic and on different approaches to help improve mental health.

How to participate

There are many ways to participate in REI Week 2023. You can:

• Attend a poster session and engage with our researchers on their latest discoveries.
• Attend a keynote lecture and hear the latest on mental health research.
• Participate in an educational workshop and obtain CME credits.
• Attend a panel discussion.
• Join us in a brief mindfulness exercise at 2 p.m., led by the Mindful Mentors program.
• Attend the closing remarks and award ceremony and see the top abstracts recognized as well as the recipients of awards like the Nursing Research Support Award.
• Engage with our mental health resources, including Responsible Conduct of Research training, and the Mindful Mentors program.

REI Week began in 2000 as a Research Day in order to showcase the breadth of translational, clinical, and community research and educational projects performed in our hospital. We hope to see you join us during the multiple events of the week. The research administration team and REI Week Planning Committee will be available all week for any questions and can be reached at researchweek@childrensnational.org.

Vittorio Gallo, Ph.D., Stephen J. Teach, M.D., M.P.H., Linda Talley, M.S., R.N., NE-BC, F.A.A.N., and Kerstin Hildebrandt, M.S.H.S. are the executive sponsors of the event.