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Spotlight on: National Kidney Month

March is National Kidney Month and we are taking the opportunity to highlight CPCE’s research in chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, and acute kidney injury among pediatric patients.   

CPCE Core Faculty member Gregory Tasian, MD, MSc, MSCE was featured in the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia 2016  Annual Report for his work to explain a rise in the incidence of kidney stones in children.

“These studies are going to help us define the treatments of the future,” Dr. Tasian said in the annual report. “Our families feel like they’re part of something that will hopefully help their child — and will almost certainly help other children.”

Upcoming Events

ITMAT Junior Investigators Symposium
Date: March 21, 2017
Time: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: Smilow Center for Translational Research, 3400 Civic Center Blvd.
The Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics (ITMAT) and the CHOP Research Institute are pleased to again co-host a one-day symposium for senior physician-fellows, post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty focused on successful strategies for a career in clinical and translational science. The agenda for the day and registration information can be found here. A novel feature of this year’s program will include a ‘Speed Mentoring’ session during which you will have the opportunity to spend time one-on-one with seasoned faculty members. The list of faculty who have committed to participate as speed mentors can be found here. 
The number of speed mentoring slots is limited. Attendees should indicate their interest in participating as a mentee in this activity at the time of registration. Contact Anna Greene with questions.

Federal Health Data Resources Available Through AHRQ and NCHS
Date: March 22, 2017
Time: 1:30 to 3:00 pm
Location: Colonial Penn Center Auditorium, 3641 Locust Walk
Sandra Decker, PhD has been an economist at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality since 2015, following 10 years at CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. Her research focuses on the effects of state Medicaid policy on access to health care and has been published in Health Affairs, the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Journal of Health Economics, and other outlets. She was a recipient of the CDC Shepard Award for excellence in scientific achievement and a two-time recipient of the CDC Billah Award for economic research. This event is part of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI) seminar series. Register here. 

Enhancing Research through Patient, Family and Health System Engagement
Date: Monday April 3, 2017
Time: 8:00 am to 1:30 pm
Location:  Smilow Center for Translational Research, 3400 Civic Center Blvd. Auditorium and Commons
The goal of the conference is to leverage the expertise available within the Penn community to: (1) enhance opportunities for investigators seeking to perform and obtain research funding for patient-centered outcomes research, and (2) evaluate and enrich the Penn infrastructure to support such endeavors. Click here for more information and to register.

Taking Action to Increase Physical Activity: Community-Academic Partnerships
Date: Wednesday April 19, 2017
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Location: 14th floor faculty lounge, Biomedical Research Building, 421 Curie Blvd.
The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Netter Center for Community Partnerships, the School District of Philadelphia, and Community Organizations are working together to promote intergenerational physical activity in West Philadelphia. This event will bring together a variety of people and organizations working to increase physical activity in order to learn from one another and foster partnerships to advance this work. Click here for more information and to register.

2017 CHOP Research Institute Scientific Symposium
Date: Tuesday May 2, 2017
Time: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Colket Translational Research Building (CTRB)
Presentations from research faculty will focus on “Significant Pediatric Research Themes for the Future” and align thematically with the research strategic plan working group areas:
 *   Understanding the Causes and Developing Therapies for Rare and Complex Diseases
 *   Innovating in Research Along the Fetal -> Adult Lifespan
 *   Advancing CHOP’s Leadership in Novel Therapeutics and Device Development
 *   Developing Breakthrough Precision Health Research

CPCE in
the News!
Recent Publications

Children and adolescents necessitating hospitalization for physical health conditions are at high risk for mental health conditions; however, the prevalence of mental health conditions and symptoms among hospitalized children and adolescents is uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine the proportion of hospitalized children and adolescents who have diagnosed mental health disorders or undiagnosed mental health problems.

Residency programs are expected to educate residents in quality improvement (QI). Effective assessments are needed to ensure residents gain QI knowledge and skills. 

Published guidelines recommend amoxicillin for most children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), yet macrolides and broad-spectrum antibiotics are more commonly prescribed. This research aimed to determine the patient and clinician characteristics associated with the prescription of amoxicillin versus macrolide or broad-spectrum antibiotics for CAP.

Psychiatric comorbidity is common in pediatric medical and surgical hospitalizations and is associated with worse hospital outcomes. Integrating medical or surgical and psychiatric hospital care depends on accurate estimates of which hospitalized children have psychiatric comorbidity. Dr. Doupnik and colleagues conducted a study to determine agreement of family report (FR) and clinician documentation (CD) identification of psychiatric diagnoses in hospitalized children.

Do changes in socio-demographic characteristics impact up-to-date immunization status between 3 and 24 months of age?
A prospective study among an inner-city birth cohort in the United States. Low-income child populations remain under-vaccinated. The objective of this study was to determine differences in the relative importance of maternal health literacy and socio-demographic characteristics that often change during early childhood on up-to-date (UTD) immunization status among a low-income population.

Dr. Gerber and colleagues evaluated the impact of the 2011 Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America pneumonia guideline and hospital-level implementation efforts on antibiotic prescribing for children hospitalized with pneumonia.

This research analyzed antifungal and antiviral prescribing among high-risk children across freestanding children's hospitals. Antifungal and antiviral days of therapy varied across hospitals. Benchmarking antifungal and antiviral use and developing antimicrobial stewardship strategies to optimize use of these high cost agents is needed.

The objective of this study was to assess the association between previous antibiotic use, particularly long-term prophylaxis, and occurrence of subsequent resistant infections in children with index infections due to extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae.

Funding Opportunities

CHOP Frontier Programs (due March 17)
Designated Frontier Programs must have 3 essential components:
1. Distinctive clinical program that provides extraordinary care
2. Associated translational research program that facilitates further advancement
3. Return on investment that can support our ongoing innovation in the years to come
Selected programs will be eligible to receive up to $1M in Year 1 and up to $1.5M per year, in Years 2 and 3. If selected, the funding will be effective July 1, 2017. All completed applications must be submitted electronically via eSPA by 5pm Friday, March 17th. Contact Victoria Otarola with any questions.

Organization for Autism Research 2017 Applied Research Competition (pre-proposals due March 27)
The annual program aims to promote innovative research that directly supports the autism community by expanding the body of knowledge related to autism intervention and treatment, producing practical and objective results, and providing outcomes that enhance the quality of life for persons with autism and their families. In 2017, OAR will award grants of up to $30,000. Studies can range from one to two years. Pre-proposals must be received no later than March 27, 2017. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal by August 7, 2017.

CHOP Research Institute Bridge Funding Program (due March 31)
The program provides up to 12 months of funding for laboratory, translational and clinical research projects to enable the continuation of an essential level of activity that can lead to additional external funding. Investigators and faculty with extramurally funded research projects administered through CHOP Research Institute are eligible for bridge funding. Pilot studies or other unfunded research will not be considered.

CHEST Foundation Research Grant in Asthma (due March 31)
The CHEST Foundation, the charitable arm of the American College of Chest Physicians, will award a single grant of $30,000 to a research project that addresses a clinical, population, or community engagement/health services aspect of asthma with relevance to the understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and/or treatment of the condition. Applicants must be a licensed physician and CHEST member in good standing at the time of application. Physicians-in-training (residents or fellows), other healthcare professionals, and clinical researchers with relevant experience also will be considered. Although applicants may be in the later stages of their career, special consideration will be given to early-career investigators and applicants.

Grants of up to $20,000 are available to help support the research of faculty members or post-doctoral researchers affiliated with non-profit human service organizations in the United States and Canada. Areas of interest to the Fund are: studies to develop, refine, evaluate, or disseminate innovative interventions designed to prevent or ameliorate major social, psychological, behavioral or public health problems affecting children, adults, couples, families, or communities, or studies that have the potential for adding significantly to knowledge about such problems.

CPCE Pilot Grant Program (due April 3)
CPCE offers awards twice each year through its Pilot Grant Program. The purpose of this program is to promote and support CHOP investigators in  clinical effectiveness pilot research studies that will attract external support for large-scale studies. Selected proposals will be supported for up to a maximum of $10,000 for one year. Projects should be able to be completed within one year.

Alex's Lemonade Stand (due May 22)
Reach Grants are designed to move hypothesis-driven research into the clinic. The $250,000, two year grant is intended to fund developmental therapeutic studies in the late stage of preclinical testing. A successful application will identify an unmet clinical need relevant to the care of pediatric patients with cancer and describe how the work performed will allow for the translation to the clinic within two years of completion. A plan and timeline for clinical testing and trial implementation is expected. This grant does not fund clinical trial expenses.  The ‘A’ Award is a four-year grant designed for the early independent career scientist who wants to establish a career in pediatric oncology research. The ideal applicant has an original project that is not currently being funded. Demonstration of a future commitment to pediatric cancer investigation as well as institutional support for the career development of the investigator are critical components of a successful application.

The mission of the Gerber Foundation is to enhance the nutrition, care, and development of infants and young children. To that end, the foundation is accepting concept papers for health and/or nutrition-related research projects with potential to have a significant impact on issues affecting infants and young children from birth to three years of age. The total requested grant size should be no more than $350,000. Concept papers must be received no later than June 1, 2017. Upon review, selected applicants will be invited to submit a full proposals by August 15, 2017.

van Ameringen Foundation, Inc. (LOI due June 9)
Within its broad focus on mental health, the Foundation is interested in encouraging and attracting innovative and practical programs in areas which: 
1. increase the accessibility of the poor and needy to mental-health services;
2. offer preventive and early-intervention strategies;
3. advocate for systemic change with local or national impact.
The Foundation generally awards up to two-year grants in the range of $25,000 to $50,000 in metropolitan New York and Philadelphia. The Foundation has in the past and may continue to increase the amount of a grant based on timely or successful efforts.

Children's Leukemia Research Association (due June 30)
CLRA was founded in 1965 to support research efforts aimed at finding the causes of and a cure for leukemia. To that end, CLRA is seeking applications from investigators for promising research on childhood leukemia. Grants of up to $30,000 will be awarded for the most promising projects with the shared goal of isolating the causes of and finding a cure for childhood leukemia. Any doctor at the Ph.D. or M.D. level involved in research on the causes of and a cure for leukemia may apply.

OnPAR Program for Unfunded NIH Proposals
Last year, the NIH received approximately $30 billion in federal support. In spite of this amount, about 42,500 grants were not funded. To address these unfunded proposals, the NIH has a new Pilot Program that is designed to match researchers with nonprofit disease Foundations or with investments from private companies. Through a new collaboration between the NIH and the private contractor Leidos, researchers can now upload their unfunded NIH Proposals into an online portal at the Online Partnership to Accelerate Research (OnPAR). Foundations and other potential funders can review the NIH scores, and decide whether they might be interested in funding the Projects. Currently, this Pilot Program allows researchers with priority scores better than the 30th percentile to submit their abstracts. Interested Foundations might ask that a researcher send their full NIH Application along with its scores. The consensus opinion is that there are a lot of worthy grants being submitted to the NIH, but there is only so much funding available. OnPAR is one way of trying to match researchers with private Foundations. 
About CPCE
We are a pediatric research center dedicated to discovering and sharing knowledge about best practices in pediatric care by facilitating, organizing and centralizing the performance of clinical effectiveness research -- research aimed at understanding the best ways to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases in children. CPCE’s multidisciplinary team conducts research on a diverse range of clinical effectiveness topics grouped within four areas of research: