Robert’s Program on Sudden Unexpected Death in Pediatrics (SUDP) seeks answers and provides support to families across the United States whose child (under age 18) has died suddenly and unexpectedly, without a known cause. Our goal is to help families understand potential factors that may have contributed to their child’s death, while offering compassionate guidance and support to help navigate their grief. Robert’s Program is a leader in research and discovery to understand the potential causes and contributing factors to SUDP.

Robert’s Program focuses on understanding the reasons behind sudden, unexpected deaths in the pediatric age range (SUDP). SUDP includes sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), sudden unexpected infant death (SUID), sudden unexplained death in childhood (SUDC), sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP), "unexplained" sudden cardiac death in the young (SCDY), and “undetermined” causes of death with or without intrinsic/extrinsic factors. Our approach is to treat every child's death as if it were caused by a potential undiagnosed disease and try to identify underlying medical vulnerabilities that may have contributed to the infant or child’s death. Our interdisciplinary team uses the most current medical knowledge and diagnostic tools to investigate each case. We welcome families to reach out with any questions about our program, a child’s potential eligibility to enroll, or our research.

Our mission

Robert’s Program is dedicated to supporting families after the sudden, unexpected, and unexplained death of their child. We provide comprehensive evaluations and bereavement-sensitive consultation, providing the highest levels of medical attention as we offer compassion, psychoeducation, and space for families to seek understanding in the face of profound loss.

At the heart of our work is a deep commitment to pairing scientific discoveries with compassionate care. Through innovative research and genetic investigation, we seek to uncover the underlying mechanisms of SUDP — striving not only to bring clarity to grieving families, but also to transform how the medical community understands and addresses these devastating losses. We never consider a case "closed" and welcome ongoing contact from families as new research emerges.

We believe that every child’s story matters and strive to honor their lives through our work. Guided by the memory of children who have died too soon, we are committed to seeking answers with care and dedication.

Our far-reaching program involves clinicians and scientists from the fields of:

  • General pediatrics
  • Neurology
  • Genetics
  • Cardiology
  • Psychology
  • Bereavement support
  • Metabolism
  • Endocrinology
  • Neuropathology
  • Pediatric and forensic pathology
  • Palliative care

The sudden and unexpected death of a child is a profound and unimaginable loss. It often occurs without warning and can affect any family — regardless of love, care, or vigilance. In addition to the heartbreak, parents are often left with unanswered questions and a deep sense of isolation. This combination of shock, grief, and uncertainty can feel overwhelming.

Please know that you are not alone. Robert’s Program is here to support you. Our mission is to help families navigate this difficult time by integrating careful medical evaluation with compassionate, grief-informed support. We work to understand why a child died, while also recognizing that this process unfolds alongside intense and ongoing grief.

We are committed to helping you find answers where possible, and to walking with you as you move through the early days, months, and beyond. Our team understands the profound impact of this loss and can help connect you with additional resources, supports, and peer networks tailored to your needs.

If you would like to talk further or learn more about available supports and resources, please connect with us.