Abbott, Project HOPE and Shanghai Children’s Medical Center Inaugurate Abbott Fund Institute of Nutrition Science

Partners Join Together to Advance Pediatric Nutrition in China

The Abbott Fund, the philanthropic arm of the global health care company Abbott, Project HOPE and Shanghai Children’s Medical Center (SCMC) today announced the official inauguration of the Abbott Fund Institute of Nutrition Science at the Shanghai Children’s Medical Center.  The Abbott Fund Institute of Nutrition Science was launched to address unmet needs in pediatric clinical nutrition in China, bringing together evidence-based nutritional research, the advanced resources of SCMC and nutrition science expertise from Abbott.

“Today’s inauguration represents an important milestone in our collaboration with Project HOPE and the Abbott Fund to create an infrastructure in pediatric clinical nutrition that has not previously existed,” said Wang Wei, M.D., Ph.D., vice president, SCMC. “Through our efforts we will advance of clinical nutrition in overall patient care, and through our collective resources we aim to improve the nutritional health of China’s children.”

Supported by Abbott’s investment of nutrition science experience, evidence and data, and in close collaboration with China’s government, the Abbott Fund Institute of Nutrition Science was created to:

• Develop nutrition protocols for treating children with underlying disease states and establish SCMC as a pediatric nutrition model for other children’s hospitals;
• Educate and disseminate clinical best practices and curriculum to health care professionals in China;
• Conduct research and training outreach about pediatric nutrition and its link to the health of children and communities.

“Project HOPE is proud to be part of this important Abbott Fund Institute of Nutrition Science partnership, which is already making advances in establishing best practices for childhood nutrition,” said John P. Howe III, M.D., president and CEO, Project HOPE, who spoke during the inauguration ceremony.  “The Abbott Fund Institute of Nutrition Science reflects the partnership’s larger commitment to providing education and building capacity to meet the current and future nutrition needs of China’s children.”

Since its start in 2007, this partnership has advanced clinical nutrition by training hundreds of health care professionals, providing nutrition counseling to more than 1,500 children and supporting clinical research that has developed clinical nutrition protocols across several critical care hospital divisions.  The partnership has already benefited China’s children through the following key accomplishments:

• Trained more than 600 health care professionals at 25 network hospitals in  17 provinces across China;
• Reduced malnutrition among children admitted to SCMC by 27 percent;
• Developed and tested clinical nutrition support guidance for nine critical care units at SCMC, including pediatric, neonatal and cardiac intensive care units.

“As one of the innovators in pediatric nutrition in China, Abbott’s commitment goes well beyond production and distribution of our products.  Abbott is also engaged in sharing our pediatric nutrition knowledge and experience to the nation’s health care professionals, and using our resources to increase understanding of the importance of nutrition in the care and treatment of China’s children,” said Thomas F. Chen, senior vice president, International Nutrition, Abbott, during the ceremony: “We are pleased to work with Project HOPE and SCMC, two highly respected partners, to move forward an agenda that is critical to the long-term nutritional health and wellness of children in China.”

“Nutrition support is indispensable for children who have suffered from serious illness – yet very few parents are aware of this,” said Prof. Cai Wei, M.D., vice chairman of Shanghai People’s Political Consultative Conference, and vice president, Shanghai Jiaotong University.  “Clinical nutrition training for physicians could be strengthened. The Abbott Fund Institute of Nutrition Science has been established to make nutrition part of pediatric care and treatment throughout China.”

About Project HOPE
In 1983, Project HOPE became the first international non-profit health organization to work in China. HOPE China has stayed at the forefront of Chinese healthcare development for more than two decades by maintaining its commitment to healthcare education and training through a number of valuable programs, implemented throughout China. These central themes of HOPE China – patient care, health education and capacity building – provide direction for a new generation of projects aiming to bring healthcare in China to international standards. Besides, the chronic disease management model-the Diabetes Mellitus Education program and HIV/AIDS Health Professional Education Program have trained numerous health professionals in China. In addition, Shanghai Children’s Medical Center (SCMC), which was jointly established by Shanghai Municipal Government and Project HOPE, has become one of the leading pediatric medical centers in China. Project HOPE China also conducts several training activities to enhance the capacity for pediatric care in SCMC. These important trainings include the Rural Pediatric Health Care providers training program, Congenital Heart Disease Health Professional Training, Earthquake Rehabilitation, Pediatric Advanced Life Support Training Program, and Pediatric Nutrition Support Training. Project HOPE also provided immediate and long-term assistance to crisis situations such as the 2008 Sichuan Province earthquake and tainted milk powder crisis.

About Shanghai Children’s Medical Center
Shanghai Children’s Medical Center (SCMC) is affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, and was jointly established by Shanghai Municipal People’s Government and US NGO-Project HOPE. The center, situated on the Pudong New Economic District, occupies more than 50,000 square meters of land space, and is a state-of-the-art medical facility for children. The hospital is categorized as a tertiary hospital and has the function and responsibility to provide advanced medical care, scientific research and education. With its 29 clinical specialties, SCMC is one of the prime health care centers for children. . The hospital holds a capacity of 500 designated medical beds. Its first-class facilities and many pieces of sophisticated medical equipment are able to deliver a high quality of care for children and their families.  President Jiang, Zhe Min provided his calligraphy to name of the hospital as Shanghai Children’s Medical Center. In 1998, June 30th, the former US First Lady, Mrs. Hilary Clinton visited the hospital and attended the opening ceremony of the hospital.  In 2007, the Cardiac Center was completed and it now can provide the best care for children with congenital heart disease.

About Abbott and the Abbott Fund
The Abbott Fund is a philanthropic foundation established by Abbott in 1951. The Abbott Fund’s mission is to create healthier global communities by investing in creative ideas that promote science, expand access to health care and strengthen communities worldwide. For more information, visit www.abbottfund.org.

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 72,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries. Abbott has been operating in China since 1995 and its China operations are headquartered in Shanghai. Abbott China employs more than 1,500 people and markets its products in key cities throughout the country.

Abbott’s news releases and other information are available on the company’s
Web site at www.abbott.com.cn and www.abbott.com.