The Academic Unit of Paediatrics was established in September 2006 and evolved into the Centre for Paediatrics in June 2008. This initiative was taken by the Medical School to facilitate the development of an academic base for paediatrics; recognising the importance of this discipline for any society - the need to look after its future, its children.

Its location within the Blizard Institute of Cell and Molecular Science ensures that like other clinical groupings paediatrics now enjoys benefits of leading edge science to address diseases affecting children and neonates. The Chair of Child Health (Professor Inderjeet Dokal ) was recruited from Imperial College together with his long term collaborator Dr Tom Vulliamy (now Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biology within Paediatrics). They have established a bone marrow failure research programme focusing on the pathophysiology of the inherited bone marrow failure syndromes, particularly dyskeratosis congenita (DC). Their research on DC has highlighted the important role of the enzyme telomerase (Fig 1) in humans and the consequences of its dysfunction including dysregulated human development, premature ageing, increased risk of bone marrow failure and cancer. Current research is focused on elucidating the pathophysiology of the many uncharacterized cases of DC/aplastic anaemia as well as studies aimed at correction of the cell defect by gene transfer with the long term aim of developing new therapies for this group of patients.

Paediatrics has also recruited a Chair of Paediatric Respiratory and Environmental Medicine (Professor Jonathan Grigg) from Leicester . Professor Grigg's research interests are paediatric asthma, and the impact of environmental pollutants on the developing lung. Drawing on a new method of assessing individual exposure of children to air pollution, his environmental research group are studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the increased vulnerability to pneumococcal pneumonia in children exposed to particulate air pollution (Fig 2). His clinical research group, in close liaison with the NHS service, is developing new therapies targeted at airway inflammation in asthma and cystic fibrosis. The research base for both Paediatric Haematology and Paediatric Respiratory Medicine interfaces closely with the large clinical activity (and the associated medical, nursing and supporting staff) of The Royal London Hospital. The School also benefits from research strengths in Paediatric Gastroenterology (Professor Ian Sanderson within the Centre for Digestive Diseases) and Paediatric Endocrinology (Professor Martin Savage).

The Centre for Paediatrics provides the hub to facilitate the development of research in all paediatric subspecialties with the real possibility of strengthening the paediatric clinical services provided at The Royal London, housing the second largest in-patient activity for paediatrics in London . This also includes the large neonatal services provided for this region of East London ( Professor Kate Costeloe , Dr Steve Kempley , Dr Shahid Husain). The additional benefit of this initiative relates to its positive impact on strengthening the academic base (Dr Steve Kempley, Dr Sandhia Naik) for undergraduate and postgraduate paediatric training.

In conclusion, this is an exciting time for paediatrics with the building blocks now in place to provide leading edge research (within the Institute of Cell and Molecular Science), clinical services (within The Royal London Hospital- which will be completely rebuilt over the next years) and teaching all on the same campus. This represents a unique opportunity for paediatrics in London . In addition, it has the benefit of a close interface with all adult specialties which not only ensures smooth transition from paediatrics to adult care for patients with chronic diseases but also synergy between "paediatric and adult research" where this is important.