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Festival of Trees – Evergreen Endowment:
Research Projects at Children’s Hospital of Michigan
Funding from the Festival of Trees has been a crucial source of support for innovative pediatric research projects at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan that have advanced the science and practice of pediatric health care. The Evergreen Endowment provides seed funding that supports preliminary research projects that allow physician-scientists to develop new models of a disease or to evaluate the efficacy of a new intervention or treatment. This kind of support is vitally important to help advance research projects to the point where they can attract external funding, because researchers cannot successfully compete for federal grants without preliminary data. Several nationally known research programs at Children’s were initiated with research funds from the Festival of Trees.
2022
Improving Medication Adherence in Adolescent Heart Transplant Recipients
Adolescence is a high-risk period for heart transplant recipients. Children’s Hospital of Michigan, like many other transplant programs, has reported poor outcomes in adolescent heart transplant recipients due to low medication adherence. These adolescents have multiple hospital admissions due to undetectable levels of immunosuppressive medications and have experienced injury to their transplanted hearts as well as loss of life. There is a strong need to develop interventions that can improve medication adherence in this population to improve long-term outcomes. This pilot study will test a multicomponent intervention model for adolescent patients which includes sessions conducted by a transplant psychologist, text messages as reminders to take medications, and the use of electronic pillboxes (automated pill dispensers) equipped with wireless technology that records patient’s dosage activity. This information will be available online for the adolescents’ healthcare providers who will receive weekly reports of patients’ medication activity. If this study is successful, it will reduce the catastrophic health consequences of medication nonadherence that are unique to heart transplant recipients.
MiRNA and IncRNA as salivary biomarkers for diagnosis and monitoring in Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE) is a chronic immune-mediated esophageal disorder characterized by reflux, pain, and swallowing difficulty. EOE is sometimes thought of as a disease of childhood as it is more likely to be diagnosed in the pediatric population though it can affect patients of all ages. It is often characterized by a relapsing and remitting course that requires frequent follow up and testing. EOE is currently diagnosed and monitored only through upper GI endoscopy (EGD) and esophageal biopsy, which reveals eosinophil-predominant inflammation. Development of less invasive methods to diagnose EOE, such as biomarkers in saliva, could benefit children by reducing the trauma associated with invasive procedures. The goal of this study is to find a miRNA signature that would allow for diagnosis of EOE with a mouth swab rather than by EGD. Identification of salivary biomarkers for EOE would not only improve diagnosis but would also be used to monitor improvement during treatment.
Role of the Microbiome in Immune Paralysis after Trauma and Major Surgery in Children
Dysregulation of the immune system causes significant disease and death in critically ill children. Some previously healthy children who suffer trauma from significant illness or major surgery recover without major complications, while others suffer from infections, sepsis, multiple organ failure, adverse long-term outcomes, or death. The reason for these different immune responses to similar levels of trauma are not clear. The intestinal microbiome (microorganisms in the intestines) regulates the immune system, and changes in the microbiome occur in critically ill patients. However, it is unclear if these changes cause immune dysregulation. The objective of this grant is to describe the relationship between changes in the microbiome, immune paralysis, and secondary infections in children after trauma or major surgery. Understanding elements of the microbiome associated with immune dysregulation may lead to interventions to improve these outcomes in children.
Improving Michigan Vaccination Rates by Integrating Human Papillomavirus Education for Pediatric Patients and Their Caregivers in the Detroit Metropolitan Area
There are many misconceptions about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that cause it to be specifically refused by parents and caregivers, leaving many adolescents exposed to the consequences and complications of high-risk strains of HPV. HPV is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the United States, and its prevention directly reduces the incidence of several types of cancer. Data from 2016 showed Michigan’s HPV vaccination rates (61.3%) are below the national averages (75%). The HPV vaccination rate at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan (CHM) General Pediatric Clinic is around 24%, much below state and national averages. For this project, investigators will develop a brief educational video to show to the parents of children who are eligible for HPV vaccination. The video will be shown during a clinic visit, and will address the risks of HPV, the benefits of vaccination, and common myths about the vaccine. If misconceptions and fears can be addressed by this clinic-based educational intervention, improvements in immunizations rates should result.
Effects of Cannabidiol on Anxiety and Behavioral Problems Among Children with Epilepsy
Cannabidiol (CBD) is currently used as a medication for treating seizures in children with epilepsy. Anxiety affects up to 50% of these children and may precipitate seizures. This pilot study, initiated in 2021, will break new ground in understanding CBD as a potential treatment for reducing the burden of childhood anxiety in children with epilepsy. Thus far, seven pediatric patients undergoing clinically indicated CBD treatment for epilepsy have completed the full study. Initial results are encouraging and show that six out of seven parents reported a reduction in their child’s seizure frequency after starting the CBD medication. Five out of six parents reported more frequent positive side effects such as improved mood and better sleep. Six out of seven parents reported a statistically significant reduction in their child’s anxiety symptoms. Although preliminary, these data indicate that CBD may be a promising approach for reducing anxiety symptoms in pediatric epilepsy patients with co-occurring anxiety symptoms.
Children’s Clinical Research Institute
Support for medical research is a vitally important part of providing the best medical care to children. Discovery of new medical treatments and techniques that can help physicians to improve care for childhood diseases requires careful investigation and study. Unfortunately, pediatric research is woefully underfunded by both federal and commercial entities. The Children’s Clinical Research Institute (CRI) provides mentoring and assistance to physician investigators for the development and conduct of pediatric research projects. The CRI advances child health through research innovation, education, and mentorship, thereby improving outcomes and the quality of life for children in our community.
Past Activities
2019
Sickle Cell Pain Intervention with Capsaicin Exposure (SPICE)
This pilot study will demonstrate the safety of treating pediatric sickle cell patients with capsaicin and the feasibility of comprehensive monitoring of neuropathic pain changes via a variety of measures. Neuropathic pain is a relatively newly described entity in sickle cell disease. It results from repeated injury and hypersensitization of sensory nerves that occurs during vaso-occlusive pain episodes, which are a painful complication of sickling of red blood cells in body tissues. Topical capsaicin is an established treatment for neuropathic pain in other patient populations that inhibits firing of the affected nerves.
Novel Use of Photoacoustic Technology for Effective Diagnosis of DIPG
This pilot study will determine the efficacy of a newly developed photoacoustic imaging device for diagnosing a type of brain tumor known as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG). The Children’s Hospital of Michigan Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery will collaborate on this innovative potential nonsurgical way to diagnose DIPG in children.
Evaluation of Coagulation Complications and Global Assays in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL)
This project will study children with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL) to better understand the causes of APL-related bleeding and clotting. APL is highly curable except that up to a third of children may die within the first month before their cancer treatments have a chance to work, due to severe bleeding or abnormally excessive clotting.
Children’s Research Center of Michigan
To support the infrastructure of the Children’s Research Center of Michigan in order to facilitate the conduct of pediatric research projects.
2018
Electronic Alert System Screening for Suspected Physical Abuse
Summary: This study will assess the impact of an electronic screening system to detect instances of physical abuse in children less than two years of age in the Emergency Department.
Project Description: There are more than 3 million reports of child maltreatment to Child Protective Services every year in the US and almost 1,600 children die annually due to abuse; this is almost four times the number of children who die every year from cancer. Child abuse occurs with higher frequency in infants and young children, and the resulting rates of mortality and morbidity are high. Close to 80% of children who die from abuse are less than 4 years of age. In Wayne County, nearly one in every 10 children lived in a family that was investigated for child abuse (2013 data). In the City of Detroit, the number of confirmed cases of child abuse increased 29% in just four years from 3,239 cases in 2011 to 4,185 cases in 2015.
Timely recognition of child abuse is critical in decreasing morbidity and mortality. However, healthcare providers frequently miss the subtle signs of physical abuse in young children who are unable to communicate their symptoms. Children’s Hospital of Michigan’s Emergency Department (CHM ED) is a level 1 trauma center with over 90,000 patient visits annually. It is difficult to consistently recognize the early and often subtle signs of child abuse in infants and young children in the ED, given the extremely busy work environment, and medical providers with varied training experience (residents, fellows, pediatricians, nurse practitioners and pediatric emergency faculty).
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has guidelines for screening and workup of physical abuse but the adherence to these guidelines is poor, particularly in busy environments like the ED. Studies have shown that a significant proportion of abused children had been previously evaluated by a health care provider who failed to recognize the abuse at the initial presentation. Subtle signs, caretakers who do not provide a complete history, and the presence of symptoms that can mimic abuse makes the diagnosis of child abuse particularly difficult, especially in young children. Further, young victims of physical abuse often have missed hidden injuries which can only be identified by screening tests such as a skeletal survey or a CT scan of the head that are not routinely done.
This project will study the impact of an electronic alert system on screening for physical abuse in children less than two years of age in the CHM ED. An electronic alert combined with an evidence based computerized decision support system (COSS) will be integrated into Children’s existing electronic medical record (EMR) for the screening and workup of suspected physical abuse in young children. This electronic alert will notify the medical provider that abuse should be suspected based on the child’s previous or current medical history in the EMR, and suggest additional testing and steps to be followed to support such a diagnosis. This approach should help in early identification and reduce disparities in the screening and workup of suspected physical abuse. The investigators will measure the effect of this intervention in the CHM ED by measuring the pre- and post- compliance with the AAP standard of care. A key desired outcome of this project will be to significantly reduce mortality and morbidity in these young children. If successful, this intervention could be rapidly implemented at other hospitals and may almost immediately reduce morbidity and save lives from physical abuse.
Predictors of Failure of High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) Oxygen Therapy in Children with Bronchiolitis
Summary: This study will improve the care of children with bronchiolitis by identifying the factors associated with the failure of HFNC oxygen therapy and by developing a tool to identify infants at risk for respiratory failure.
Project Description: Bronchiolitis is a common viral illness of the respiratory tract. It affects the tiny airways, called the bronchioles, that lead to the lungs. As these airways become inflamed, they swell and fill with mucus, which can make breathing difficult. Bronchiolitis is one of the leading causes of pediatric and intensive care unit admissions in children less than two years of age. Approximately 20% of children develop bronchiolitis during the first year of life in the US, with 2-3% requiring hospitalization. The hospitalization rate for bronchiolitis has increased by 25% in the last decade in the US with an annual cost of admission of more than $500 million dollars. At Children’s Hospital of Michigan (CHM), bronchiolitis is the most common illness resulting in hospitalization in infants less than one year of age with around 600-700 hospital admissions per year.
The main complication of bronchiolitis is respiratory failure, with almost one fifth of children requiring invasive and non-invasive respiratory support. The treatment for bronchiolitis is mainly supportive with supplemental oxygen and intravenous hydration. High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy is a non-invasive respiratory support modality used commonly in bronchiolitis that provides heated and humidified oxygen to assist breathing and has been shown to decrease the need for mechanical ventilation. However, up to one-third of the infants and children on HFNC therapy will still require mechanical ventilation. There is little data currently that identifies the factors associated with failure of HFNC oxygen therapy in these patients.
This study will evaluate the factors (patient and clinical characteristics) associated with failure of HFNC oxygen therapy in children with bronchiolitis who present to the Emergency Department (ED) at CHM. Understanding predictive factors of HFNC oxygen therapy failure is crucial as such failure can result in delayed initiation of mechanical ventilation and poor patient outcomes. This study will help to identify a subset of children with bronchiolitis who will benefit from early initiation of mechanical ventilation and /or admission to the intensive care unit for closer monitoring of their respiratory status. Early identification of children at risk for failure of HFNC oxygen therapy would result in early initiation of mechanical ventilation and could lead to decreased hospital length of stay and improved patient outcomes.
The successful development of a tool to predict those who will fail HFNC oxygen therapy would help to identify and more appropriately manage these patients. Such a tool could have global beneficial effects for a large population of children almost as soon as it is completed and the study’s results disseminated to other hospitals.
Reduction of Medication Errors in Children with Chronic Medical Conditions
Summary: This study will improve the care of children with chronic medical conditions by comparing two well-known interventions to reduce medication errors which are more prevalent in this population of children.
Project Description: The Institute of Medicine estimates that 7,000 people die each year in the US as a result of medication errors. These errors occur more commonly in children, who are particularly vulnerable to medication errors due to their unique dosing needs. Further, medication errors in children are more likely to cause harm because of smaller size, physiological variability and inability to communicate symptoms. Children with chronic medical conditions (CMC) have a higher medical error rate per 100 discharges compared to other children. Rising rates of complications and disability in this population of children results in increased health care utilization, community based service needs, reliance on multiple medications and increased need for coordination encounters with health care systems. These children are particularly vulnerable to medication errors due to the use of multiple medications, drug interactions, constant dose changes and difficulty in effective medication reconciliation.
In addition to the higher medical error rates in inpatient setting, these children also have been shown to have higher rates of medication errors in the home setting resulting in unnecessary escalation in doses and potential for harm compared to children without CMC. One study of children with sickle cell disease and seizures, found 61 medication errors among 52 home visits with 14.7% resulting in harm and nearly half of these errors having a potential to injuring the child. The authors noted that these errors were due to communication failures between health care providers and caretakers at the time of discharge from the hospital (eg. misunderstanding physician instructions to adjust doses and labeling issues), and between multiple caretakers resulting in errors in medication preparation and administration. More importantly health care providers were unaware of more than 80% of these errors at home. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop strategies such as improved education and communication between caretakers and health care providers in proper reconciliation, dispensing and use of home mediations to reduce medical errors in this unique group of children both in the inpatient and home settings.
Several studies have described the efficacy of an electronic medication alert system with computerized decision systems (EMAS/CDSS) in reducing medication errors among children in various hospital settings such as the intensive care unit. Studies also have evaluated the efficacy of a clinical pharmacist (CP) in decreasing medication errors in children without CMC. However, no studies have determined the efficacy of either intervention (either alone or in combination) in reducing medication errors among children with CMC and none have compared the efficacy of the two strategies. Thus, there exists a gap in knowledge regarding which of these two strategies will be most effective in reducing errors and improving medication reconciliation in children with CMC.
If the combination of these two interventions (CP in addition to EMAS) proves to be effective in reduction of medication errors and improved medication reconciliation in children with CMC both in the hospital and in the home, it will serve to reduce the return visits of these children for exacerbations of their disease. Further improved adherence to correct medication type and doses will serve to improve quality of life through better control of disease symptoms. If found to be effective, CP plus EMAS can be implemented across all pediatric hospitals across the country to help improve the care of these children. Since most hospitals have a CP and most have EMAS as well, implementation of both during the care of these children will be relatively easy. The long-term goal of this study is to improve care of children with CMC and improve the quality of life by reducing medication error rates.
Children’s Research Center of Michigan
Summary: Festival of Trees support the infrastructure of the Children’s Research Center of Michigan to facilitate the conduct of pediatric research projects.
Project Description: The Children’s Research Center of Michigan (CRCM) provides research support services to residents, Fellows, Medical Students, and investigators by providing data management, statistical analysis, grant administration, and regulatory assistance and oversight. Additionally, the CRCM has wet bench laboratory space for use by researchers and is designed around the concept of an open laboratory; which encourages interactions between investigators. The CRCM maintains core biomedical research equipment and provides laboratory supplies, and offers educational programs for faculty, fellows, residents, and medical students. The staff of the Clinical Research Center (CRC) arm of the CRCM conduct all aspects of clinical research and will perform clinical assessments, recruit study participants, data collection, IRB preparation, and manage regulatory documents.
The Children’s Research Center of Michigan (CRCM) was established by the Children’s Hospital of Michigan (CHM) in 1996 with a clear mission to “advance knowledge in the science and art of medicine in order to improve methods to prevent, cure, and treat childhood diseases.” The CRCM helps facilitate and expand pediatric clinical and non-clinical research by identifying sponsored funding opportunities, provides grant writing assistance and editing; guidance with interpreting sponsor guidelines and applications; processing of grant applications through administrative channels; assistance of biostatisticians; grant administration services (pre-and post-award management); provides regulatory support and assists with IRB submissions and issues. The CRCM supports the conduct of both clinical and basic science research, research education, and dissemination of research results.
In a climate where grant funding (public or private) is highly competitive, it is imperative that a research enterprise has a strong infrastructure of support to help investigators not only identify funding opportunities, but to execute their research efficiently and appropriately. Beginning physician investigators who want to pursue research questions that lead to improved treatments for children need supportive mentoring in best practices, and do not have the time or knowledge to navigate the complex regulations that govern pediatric research. Through the collaborative relationship of CHM, Wayne State University and the Detroit Medical Center, the CRCM is a vital resource for faculty, clinicians, and investigators.
2017
Bladder Stimulation and Clean Catch Urine Collection in Infants
Summary: This study will determine the feasibility of utilizing a clean catch urine process in infants with urinary tract infections in a pediatric ER department instead of catheterization, leading to a decrease in cost, discomfort and potential risk.
Project Description: Urinary tract infection is the most common serious bacterial infection among febrile infants, occurring in 7% of children less than 24 months of age evaluated for fever without a source. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends obtaining a urine specimen for urinalysis and culture via catheterization, but this gold standard approach is invasive, painful, and presents risk to the infant. As an alternative, a new non-invasive technique for obtaining a mid-stream clean catch urine sample in infants has been described. This approach couples feeding with bladder stimulation.
Previous studies have demonstrated that this non-invasive method is quick with contamination rates similar to catheterization. These studies, however, relied upon trained personnel thereby limiting their generalizability. This study will be the first to evaluate the feasibility of incorporating this technique into clinical practice in a busy, urban, academic Pediatric Emergency Department. In training over one hundred staff, this study aims to demonstrate that minimal training is required to provide an approach to urine collection for young infants that will be well tolerated by infants and preferred by providers and parents when compared with catheterization.
Childhood Obesity and Immune Response to Vaccinations
Summary: This study will investigate the relationship between childhood obesity and secondary immunodeficiency that may cause vaccinations to be less effective.
Project Description: Obesity is a major health issue in children in Detroit. Unfortunately, these children have more frequent and severe infections as compared to other non-obese children. These children are may have more frequent illnesses because they are immune-compromised. Immune dysregulations have been previously reported in obese animals and adult humans, but this relationship has not been studied in children. In older adults who are immune-compromised, investigators have noted that immunizations are less effective than in the general population. This project will investigate whether childhood immunizations are effective in obese children and can protect them from infections. Investigators will evaluate the antibody titers that occur from routine vaccinations in obese children as compared to children with normal body-mass index (BMI) and the reference protective antibody titers. This project will be the first pilot study to examine the effectiveness of routine childhood immunization in obese children compared to their normal BMI peers. Findings from this project may lead to an early intervention to improve the efficacy of routine immunization and reduce infection rates and infectious morbidity in obese children. The results of this study may also assist in further identifying the mechanism(s) that compromise immune function in obesity and the development of new methods restoring the immune systems from chronic inflammatory stage in obesity.
Pulmonary Hypertension in the Preterm Neonate
Summary: This study seeks to identify genetic biomarkers for early diagnosis and novel therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia in premature infants.
Project Description: Preterm birth and its consequences constitute a major health problem in the US and in Michigan. With advances in perinatal care, modest reductions in several complications of prematurity have been observed except bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), the most common chronic lung disease of preterm birth, which has actually increased. BPD is characterized by aberrant pulmonary development and lifelong alterations in cardiopulmonary functions. It has been increasingly recognized that pulmonary hypertension (PH) may develop as a consequence of BPD in over one-third of preterm infants and contribute to the severity and persistence of BPD symptoms and poor short and long-term outcome, including higher mortality, persistently elevated pulmonary arterial pressures, chronic oxygen insufficiency, cardiopulmonary instability, and right heart dysfunction. These conditions lead to longer hospital stays and poor growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in those premature infants who survive. Historically, much focus has been on the treatment of BPD and/or PH once symptoms are diagnosed and the disease is well established. More recently, it has been recognized that BPD and associated PH starts early in life with genetic factors interacting with pre- and postnatal environmental exposures to exert specific long-term effects on lung structure and functions. Despite decades of promising research, primary prevention of BPD and associated PH has proven elusive. Improved understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms of BPD will facilitate the development of tailored, personalized therapeutic approaches, while reducing health care costs. This study seeks to identify and validate early biomarkers that predict later disease and serve as surrogates for long-term outcomes to facilitate early diagnosis and enable the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of PH associated with BPD in premature infants.
2016
Schizophrenia Research led by Dr. Vaibhav Diwadkar
(originally being conducted by Dr. Monica Uddin)
The purpose is to study the interaction of developmental, environmental and genetic factors
and the impact of stress (particularly during adolescence) on the brain network function in
schizophrenia patients.
Sickle Cell Research led by Dr. Patrick Hines
The purpose is to understand pathways and adhesion of sickle cells in order to identify possible
alternative therapies for sickle cell patients.
Extubation Readiness Research led by Dr. Sanjay Chawla
The purpose is to develop a reliable tool for assessing when extremely premature infants are
ready to have intubation tubes removed.
2015
Extubation Readiness Study (Year Two) – Dr. Sanjay Chawla
Most preterm infants require endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, an invasive therapy with adverse effects. Determining the optimal time for extubation (removal) is critical to the success of the procedure and for reducing morbidity, and this study seeks to develop an automated prediction of extubation readiness in extreme preterm infants.
Functional Brain Mapping for Epilepsy (Year Two) – Dr. Eisha Asano
About 1% of the general population has epilepsy, while one-fifth of epilepsy is medically intractable. The goals of this project are: 1) to generate a model to predict the long-term language outcomes following epilepsy surgery, and 2) to better understand how the language system works during speech, using electrocorticography gamma mapping of the brain. This study seeks to map and investigate the language areas in the brain in children, and to develop a model to predict the long-term outcomes on these areas and on language in children following epilepsy surgery.
Music Therapy in the NICU (Year Two) – Dr. Deepak Kamat
The study explores the effect of music exposure on the maturity of the autonomic nervous system. Neonates born prematurely (infants 27 to 34 weeks) are under stress of various invasive procedures during prolonged stays in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Music Therapy is often used in older children to reduce stress and the response to pain, and this study will explore if music exposure at safe levels can improve outcomes for neonates.
2014
Schizophrenia Research – Drs. Monica Uddin and Vaibhav Diwadkar
Relatives of schizophrenia patients have a high risk of psychiatric disorders in the future, but how to mediate this risk for this illness remains unclear. This research would study the epigenetics, stress and impact on brain function in schizophrenia patients to understand how these factors might mediate this risk in adolescence.
Music Therapy in the NICU – Dr. Deepak Kamat
The study explores the effect of music exposure on the maturity of the autonomic nervous system. Neonates born prematurely (infants 27 to 34 weeks) are under stress of various invasive procedures during prolonged stays in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Music Therapy is often used in older children to reduce stress and the response to pain, and this study will explore if music exposure at safe levels can improve outcomes for neonates.
Test Recommendation System – Dr. Michael Klein
This study investigates whether various test factors can improve test recommendations of a clinical decision support system. This study also analyses the selection of test by a doctor, in this case by studying whether the consideration of various test factors (monetary cost, time requirements, amount of information provided, etc.) can improve the test recommendations in order to determine if these factors can reduce diagnosis times, decrease costs and decrease the risks and discomfort of testing.
Extubation Readiness Study – Dr. Sanjay Chawla
Most preterm infants require endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation, an invasive therapy with adverse effects. Determining the optimal time for extubation (removal) is critical to the success of the procedure and for reducing morbidity, and this study seeks to develop an automated prediction of extubation readiness in extreme preterm infants.
Automated Endoscopic Camera Positioning System – Abhlash Pandya, Ph.D.
This study seeks to develop an optimized control mechanism for automated camera positioning for faster and more efficient endoscopic operations, allowing for improved outcomes for patients.
Functional Brain Mapping for Epilepsy – Dr. Eisha Asano
About 1% of the general population has epilepsy, while one-fifth of epilepsy is medically intractable. The goals of this project are: 1) to generate a model to predict the long-term language outcomes following epilepsy surgery, and 2) to better understand how the language system works during speech, using electrocorticography gamma mapping of the brain. This study seeks to map and investigate the language areas in the brain in children, and to develop a model to predict the long-term outcomes on these areas and on language in children following epilepsy surgery.
2013
Sleep Apnea Research – Dr. Larisa Kovacevic
Continuation of the 2011 study that explores the relationship between sleep apnea and nocturnal enuresis (inability to control urination) in order to reduce enuresis in these patients.
Down Syndrome Research – Dr. Jeffrey Taub
Continuation of the 2011 study that examines why children with Down Syndrome are up to 20 times more likely to develop Leukemia to help better understand the disease and possible treatments.
Ending Recurrent Ear Infections – Dr. James Coticchia
Continuation of the 2012 study that seeks to develop novel and less invasive treatments for recurrent ear infections in children.
Improving Outcomes by Improving Communication – Dr. April Carcone
Continuation of the 2012 study that investigates whether improved communication with healthcare providers can improve treatment outcomes and increase patient satisfaction in children newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
2012
New Treatment for Sickle Cell-Related Diseases – Dr. Patrick Hines
This study explores the use of asthma medication to treat sickle cell disease patients who also have other pulmonary vascular diseases.
Young Parents and Prenatal Substance Use – Dr. Christopher Trentacosta
This study examines the history of prenatal drug and alcohol use in new parents as a predictor of their parenting abilities, and investigates the effect it has on their children’s conduct and self-control.
Ending Recurrent Ear Infections – Dr. James Coticchia
This study seeks to develop novel and less invasive treatments for recurrent ear infections in children.
Improving Outcomes by Improving Communication – Dr. April Carcone
This study investigates whether improved communication with healthcare providers can improve treatment outcomes and increase patient satisfaction in children newly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.
2011
Enuresis Research – Dr. Larisa Kovacevic
This research is studying the factors that may be responsible for the effect of removal of tonsils and adenoids on bedwetting in children.
Generating Stem Cells for Down Syndrome and Leukemia Research – Dr. Jeffrey Taub
Although most children with Leukemia have no known predisposed risk factors, this study examines why children with Down Syndrome are up to 20 times more likely to develop Leukemia to help better understand the disease and possible treatments.
Improving Working Memory of Children with Lead Poisoning – Dr. Theresa Holtrop
This first-of-its-kind project is using a computer-assisted training program on children ages 7 to 10 with lead poisoning to try and improve the ability of their working memory.
2010
CHM Gene Core Bank Research Facility (Year Two), Dr. Ahm Huq and Gene Bank Advisory Group
Neonatal & Perinatal Medicine Research, Dr. Nitin Chouthai
Neonatal & Perinatal Medicine Research, Dr. Beena Sood
Emergency Medicine Research, Dr. Prashant Mahajan
Emergency Medicine Research, Dr. Nirupima Kannikeswaran
2009
CHM Gene Core Bank Research Facility, Dr. Ahm Huq and Gene Bank Advisory Group
Relation of Oxidative Stress to Anthracycline-induced Cardiomyopathy, Dr. Thomas L’Ecuyer
Gene Therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Related Neuromuscular Diseases, Dr. Gyula Ascadi
2008 and Prior Years
Reducing Perinatal Brain Injury by Total Body Cooling, Dr. Seetha Shankaran
Positron Emission Tomography Center, Dr. Harry Chugani
Congenital Cardiovascular Interventional Study Consortium (CCISC), Dr. Thomas Forbes and Dr. Daniel Turner
Nutrition for Critically Ill Children, Dr. Kathleen Meert
Novel Approaches to Treat Childhood Paralysis and Spasticity, Dr. William Lyman
Pediatric Motion Analysis, Dr. Edward Dabrowski
Gene Therapy for Chemotherapy-Induced Heart Failure, Dr. Thomas L’Ecuyer
Computer Assisted Robot Enhanced Surgery (CARES), Dr. Michael D. Klein and Dr. Scott Langenburg