Dear Teammates,

Research is a team sport. In this inaugural Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute President's Message, we can dig into what that means. With our recently updated newsletters and communications, and the new forthcoming Manne Research Institute website, I would like to share with you my vision for these monthly messages.

Many of you know me as the President and Chief Research Officer of Manne Research Institute. I am also a researcher in the Basic and Preclinical Science pillar who studies microbiomes. I am a feminist dad of two young women. I use time running, gardening, and paddling my kayak on Lake Michigan to dream. Each month, I plan to reflect on how our research community is mobilizing and adapting to address the evolution of pediatric health challenges. I’ll highlight our multidisciplinary teams and how their discoveries will improve the lives of children and families.

Research is a team sport. This is a concept we are all familiar with, but perhaps rarely consider the many layers of support, immeasurable training and preparation, and the sheer persistence needed to drive scientific progress across the goal line. Our research institute team roster encompasses all staff, trainees, and faculty engaged in research at Lurie Children’s. Our Basic and Preclinical Science colleagues conduct laboratory experiments that investigate essential functions of biological processes and the fundamental mechanisms of diseases and disorders affecting children’s health. Our Clinical and Community Trials researchers translate the meaningful discoveries of basic science into promising clinical applications through evaluation of new diagnostic tests and drugs, behavioral treatments, and other interventions to determine their effects on pediatric health. Our Community, Population Health, and Outcomes investigators seek to improve health, health care delivery, and access to care for children and youth from a diverse range of backgrounds and environments. Our Quantitative Science experts innovate and provide cutting-edge statistical, data analytics, and computational techniques to maximize research impact and improve the health outcomes of pediatric patients. We are all part of the Manne Research Institute team and are all integral contributors to its mission. Victories can and should be attributed to and celebrated by the many hands that carry the ball along the way.

To highlight the unique blend of professional, scientific, and social perspectives on our team, I want to introduce Amy Johnson, PhD, MSW, and research assistant professor in The Potocsnak Family Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine. Amy is a co-investigator of a recently published study that found the iCARE Nigeria multi-phase trial evaluating interventions, such as social media and peer navigation, helped increase HIV testing and linkage to medical care among high-risk youth and young men in Nigeria. She contributed her expertise in qualitative methods, public health, and social work to a multidisciplinary research team that conducted focus groups with young people, analyzed the data, and applied their findings to adapt the interventions. Most importantly, the iCARE Nigeria team’s work will have a profound effect on the health of adolescents. “iCARE is my first global health research project, and I can’t imagine collaborating with a better team. It has been very rewarding getting to know our collaborators from the Infectious Diseases Institute of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, and the University College Hospital in Nigeria and working together to improve engagement and testing among young men who have sex with men in Nigeria,” she explains.

In future messages, I look forward to sharing more stories like Amy’s that showcase the diverse roles of our researchers and team members, and provide insights into the local, regional, and global reach of our scientific contributions. In the meantime, I encourage you to take advantage of the depth of knowledge at Manne Research Institute and explore collaborations with researchers who bring a wide range of skills and proficiencies to the table. It’s through this diversity of people, their knowledge and experience, as well as a commitment to teamwork that the advancement of science in children’s healthcare thrives at Manne Research Institute.