Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood
What is SUDC?
Luca’s cause of death could not be determined. His passing is categorized as SUDC — Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood.
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SUDC is defined as the sudden and unexpected death of a child 12 months or older that remains unexplained even after a thorough investigation, which includes:
An autopsy
Toxicology testing
Genetic testing
Most often, a seemingly healthy child goes to sleep and never wakes up.
SUDC is not a diagnosis — it is a category of death that currently defies medical understanding.
We do not know what causes SUDC, how to predict it, or how to prevent it.
Why Awareness Matters
SUDC is the 5th leading category of death in children ages 1–4, impacting ~250 children in this age range each year
Despite this, SUDC receives no federal funding for research
Research and Hope
The organizations below are leaders in raising awareness regarding SUDC, supporting families impacted by SUDC, and performing research to understand the cause of SUDC. We hold onto hope that this vital research will lead to answers — for our family and for so many others.
SUDC Registry and Research Collaborative
The Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Registry and Research Collaborative (SUDCRRC) is a multisite research collaborative created at NYU Langone Health in 2014.
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It studies sudden unexplained deaths in childhood (SUDC) with its team of experts from pediatrics, neurology, cardiology, radiology, pathology, and infectious disease to better understand and prevent these tragedies.
Robert's Program
Robert’s Program on Sudden Unexpected Death in Pediatrics (SUDP) is a clinical service offered to families who have lost a child suddenly and unexpectedly, without apparent cause. Their interdisciplinary team uses the most current medical knowledge and methods to find answers for bereaved families while being leaders in research and discovery.
