International Initiative for Pediatrics and Nutrition (IIPAN)

What We Do

physician and a child

Headquartered at Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC) in New York City, the International Initiative for Pediatrics and Nutrition (IIPAN) is building on more than 20 years of pioneering work in nutritional training, research, and advocacy through CUIMC’s Integrative Therapies Program.

IIPAN creates infrastructure and trains clinicians with an acclaimed global support network of institutional and professional partners that includes leading research and academic hospitals around the world.

IIPAN’s nutritional interventions and solutions are an essential component of comprehensive pediatric medical care.

  • Building Capacity
  • Collaborating with hospitals, local NGOs, and governments
  • Hiring local clinicians and nutritionists

Training & Education

  • Training nutritionists in the use of evidence-based protocols
  • Educating parents, caregivers, and the community

Advancing Research

  • Applying rigorous scientific approaches to measuring and evaluating the role of nutritional care in developing countries
  • Monitoring progress and reporting impact
  • Determining global and regional needs

The Global Challenge

Children around the world are losing the fight to cancer due to malnutrition.

It is estimated that 30% to 80% of children in developing countries are malnourished at the time of diagnosis, delaying treatment and reducing the chances of survival.

IIPAN and its global network of distinguished partners provides a cost effective and efficient solution to address this growing need.

How IIPAN is Helping

IIPAN’s unique model addresses key factors affecting a child’s quality of life and prognosis:

  • Malnutrition - IIPAN is leading the way in developing countries where there is the greatest share of malnutrition.
  • Diagnosis - IIPAN’s solution works to provide care in developing countries to meet the growing number of children diagnosed with cancer and chronic illness.
  • Survival Rates - IIPAN delivers access to state-of-the-art nutritional protocols proven to positively impact prognosis.
  • Funding - Despite a larger death toll from cancer, the bulk of donor funding in developing countries goes to infectious disease. IIPAN’s cost-effective solution helps to close this treatment gap
  • Infrastructure - Most clinicians providing care to children with cancer and pediatric illnesses in developing countries have limited time, institutional support, individual funding, and appropriate training to deliver optimal care. IIPAN is changing this.

IIPAN’s Integrated Solution

  • Educating clinicians at all levels of care
  • Building capacity to serve the increase in pediatric illness
  • Fostering a network to support the health and well-being of communities
  • Offering mentorship for ongoing guidance and training
  • Monitoring and evaluating progress and impact
  • Collaborating with NGOs and leading world heath institutions to further develop protocols and practices