Research Bulletin
News from the Child Health Research Institute
June 2022
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CHRI National Scientific Advisory Board Chosen |
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The Child Health Research Institute (CHRI) is pleased to announce its National Scientific Advisory Board (NSAB). The members of the advisory board are experts in pediatric science at leading institutions around the U.S., bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the growing institute. The National Scientific Advisory Board will provide input on CHRI strategies, objectives, priorities and other institute-wide matters. They will meet twice a year, once virtually this summer, and in-person at the annual CHRI Conference, Nov. 3 and 4.
Ann Anderson Berry, MD, PhD, CHRI Executive Director, chief of the UNMC Division of Neonatology and Vice President of Research at Children’s, says that the engagement of the new board will be vital to the development of CHRI. “The NSAB is tasked with reviewing the leadership, structure and resources of CHRI and making recommendations to the leadership to enhance the opportunities and increase the successes of our members,” she says. “Using our mission and vision as guides and our strategic plan as an outline, the NSAB will review our current state and help us move forward as an institution in the best manner possible.”
“At Children’s, we are invested in the development of science that improves the lives of children,” says Chanda Chacón, MPH, FACHE, Children’s President & CEO. “I am eager to see how the formation of this knowledgeable board steers CHRI to enable groundbreaking discoveries that have real-world impact for children in our region and beyond.”
UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, says he is excited by the leaders who have joined the board.
“The Child Health Research Institute’s innovative and collaborative research will have an enormous positive effect on the children of Nebraska and beyond,” Dr. Gold says. “With the visionary leadership these board members bring to their new roles, the Child Health Research Institute is certain to continue to advance pediatric science as it seeks better health care outcomes for children.
The National Scientific Advisory Board members are:
Chair of the Board
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Margaret (Peggy) K. Hostetter, MD, Professor Emerita, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, former B. K. Rachford Chair and Director of the Research Foundation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Board Members
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Carl L. Bose, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
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Phyllis A. Dennery, MD, Professor and Sylvia K. Hassenfeld Chair of Pediatrics; Professor of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Brown University; Pediatrician in Chief, Hasbro Children's Hospital
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Kevin Johnson, MD, MS, FAAP, FAMIA, FACMI, Vice President of Applied Informatics at the University of Pennsylvania Health System and David L. Cohen University Professor of Pediatrics, Informatics, Engineering and Communication, Perelman School of Medicine, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Annenberg School of Communication at the University of Pennsylvania
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Jeffrey C Murray, MD, Professor of Pediatrics Emeritus, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa
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Joseph P. Neglia, MD, MPH, Ruben Benston Professor and Head, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota
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Frederick Suchy, MD, Senior Research Strategist, Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado School of Medicine
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CHRI Pediatric Research Forum Takes Place
In-Person at Children's Hospital Solarium
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The Child Health Research Institute (CHRI) hosted its 20th annual Pediatric Research Forum May 5 in Children’s Hospital & Medical Center's newly opened solarium. It was the first
in-person research forum since 2019, and approximately 100 people attended, either in person or
over Zoom.
Ann Anderson Berry, MD, PhD, CHRI Executive Director, emceed the award ceremony, which began with keynote presentations from Wiliam Rizzo, MD, professor, division of Inherited Metabolic Diseases, and CHRI Scientific Director, and Matt Halanski, MD, associate professor, Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery. Dr. Rizzo spoke shared his insights from his experiences as a rare disease researcher, and Dr. Halanski discussed how research can be used to avoid career burnout.
Following the keynote presentations, winners in each research category were announced, Lauren Ridgeway, MD, won in the resident/fellow category. David Doss earned top prize in the graduate student section. Alexandra Hergenrader won in the medical school level category, and Emily Kassing was the undergraduate winner. Dr. Ridgeway, Doss and Hergenrader received their awards and presented their respective research. The hybrid format allowed Kassing to present her research virtually.
For the third year in a row, physicians and medical trainees were invited to showcase their creative talent through the Medicinal Musings program. Awards were given to faculty and students in the categories of photography, prose, poetry and visual art. The visual art entries will be displayed on the Communication Station screens posted around Children's campus.
The award ceremony was followed by a poster session during which researchers discussed their projects and attendees connected face-to-face.
Congratulations to all the winners, and many thanks to those on the CHRI team, particularly Jackie Ostronic, project manager, and Analisa Peyton, administrative projects associate, for making the event such a success!
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Medicinal Musing piece by Yanick Tade, Creighton University School of Medicine |
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Medicinal Musings piece, EncephaloGarden by Kali King, Creighton University School of Medicine |
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CHRI Priorities & Activities:
Update from Executive Director Ann Anderson Berry, MD, PhD
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It is with great pleasure that I announce the members of CHRI’s National Scientific Advisory Board (NSAB). The members are a highly accomplished group of physician-scientists and national leaders in child health research. They bring a large variety of experience and accomplishments that will serve CHRI and our members well. The NSAB will meet twice a year, virtually in the summer and in-person at the CHRI Annual Conference this coming November.
The NSAB is tasked with reviewing the leadership, structure and resources of CHRI and making recommendations to the leadership to enhance the opportunities and increase the successes of our members. Using our mission and vision as guides and our strategic plan as an outline, the NSAB will review our current state and help us move forward to serve each of you in the best manner possible.
Members of the NSAB have expertise in basic, clinical and translational research, biomedical informatics, population health, clinical trials management, academic leadership and growing research enterprises at prestigious institutions across the country. They are a diverse group of individuals who are committed to the growth and development of CHRI and our members.
Please mark your calendars for November 3-4, 2022 for the CHRI Conference, where you will have a chance to meet them and see their talents and expertise firsthand.
Kind regards,
Ann
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Research Nurse Coordinator Betty Oberle Presents on Implementation of Harvard University HERO Pediatric Stress Study |
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CHRI Research Nurse Coordinator Betty Oberle was recently invited by the “Health’s Early Roots and Origins” (HERO) study sponsors at Harvard University to present to the 20 sites that will be conducting the study throughout the U.S. as part of the JPB Research Network on Toxic Stress. Ann Anderson-Berry, MD, PhD, CHRI Executive Director and professor in the Division of Neonatology, is the principal investigator. Broadly stated, the HERO study is intended to examine the impact of stress on the health outcomes of children.
The aim of the JPB Research Network on Toxic Stress is to improve the outcomes of young children facing adversity by empowering pediatric clinicians, parents and other caregivers through more robust metrics that make it possible to:
- Enhance screening for individual differences in sensitivity to stress activation and behavioral measures that build resilience.
- Strengthen the ability to make targeted referrals to well-matched services (when indicated), as well as convey credible reassurance for parents of children who are doing well.
- Augment the capacity to measure variation in short-term intervention effects to inform ongoing, individualized management and sustainable payment for effective services.
CHRI is the only participating institution running this study in three separate clinic locations in Omaha, Lincoln and Kearney, Neb. To successfully recruit and enroll, the study utilizes students from University Nebraska Kearney (UNK), University Nebraska - Lincoln (UNL), University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Creighton University as research assistants under Oberle’s direction.
Being the first study site to begin enrollment presented specific challenges. Oberle explains, “Every challenge that arose, we were the first to encounter it. We were not able to rely on solutions from other locations. It made the process exciting and frustrating at the same time.”
It was these hard lessons learned that Oberle shared in her presentations. Some of the challenges included multiple tech issues, getting supplies to rural communities and establishing relationships and workflow with the clinical staff. Oberle also spoke about the rewards she and her team experienced by getting their studies started. Research assistant Jaci Dietz, a UNK student, explained the satisfaction.
“Building a relationship with the community through our research has been the most rewarding. The vast majority of patients we have seen at the clinic live in rural communities and have not been introduced to research. HERO is a great way to build a positive association with research and hopefully make them more likely to participate in the future,” Dietz says.
Oberle adds that a secondary benefit for her in leading the coordination of the study is having a chance to work with the various universities and healthcare entities across Nebraska. “I’m not worried about the future; I am so impressed by the future graduates that have chosen a career path in healthcare and are dedicating their time to support this study,” she says.
According to Oberle, the audience members were very engaged with trying to learn as much as possible from her slides. She remarks, “They asked great questions, and you could tell that they were heartened that we had overcome the challenges that they we currently encountering; that it could be done.”
A few days after her presentation, Oberle received a note from the Harvard team thanking her for sharing her experience with the larger HERO group. Oberle shared the note with her team and is quick to explain that getting the studies launched was an immense team effort, involving clinical staff and IT support staff at all three locations. The research assistants have been vital to the success of recruiting children for the study, collecting data and managing the on-site issues that arise. She explains, “This study would not be possible without the research assistants. Our study inevitably disrupts the natural flow at the clinics we conduct our research in, and it is up to the research assistants to manage the relationships there with the nurses, doctors and patients.”
Oberle looks forward to continued success for the HERO study. Seventy children are currently enrolled across the three sites and, with the implementation challenges behind them, they are well on their way to increasing enrollment. The study will conclude when they reach their goal of 900 enrollees.
Oberle and her team's successful study has cast a shining light on CHRI and adds to its reputation as a leading presence in pediatric research and study coordination.
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CHRI Web Site Transitions to New UNMC Web Page Design |
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The CHRI web pages have been transitioned to the new style introduced by UNMC Strategic Communications in 2021. You will see the site has been redesigned to provide basic information to non-CHRI members, with the more detailed resources housed within the newly developed CHRI Member Portal. If you require changes to the new web pages or have site recommendations, please contact Chuck Koster at ckoster@childrensomaha.org.
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Dr. Russell McCulloh Named Assistant Dean for Clinical Research |
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This article originally ran in UNMC Today and was written by Vicky Cerino.
Russell McCulloh, MD, knows that research is difficult, with repeated failure a common theme, punctuated by moments of success.
As the recently selected assistant dean for clinical research for the College of Medicine, Dr. McCulloh will serve as an advocate to help identify and tackle barriers to facilitate local, regional and national research. As a liaison and guide, he will help researchers connect with collaborators and resources across the research enterprises at UNMC, Nebraska Medicine and partners including the Veterans Administration, Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and other health systems.
"I am interested in this role because it gives me the chance to help others overcome obstacles to getting important research questions answered," said Dr. McCulloh, chief of the division of pediatric hospital medicine at the Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and associate professor of pediatrics and director of the UNMC Nebraska Pediatric Clinical Trials Unit. "My experience in research over the course of my career has given me an appreciation for all the work that it takes to get projects launched and successfully completed.
"I believe that clinical research is critical to improving people’s lives," he said. "It links the amazing work that bench-scientists do to identify fundamental insights in biology and other sciences with patients and the community. I firmly believe that clinical research should meet community needs and seek to make meaningful positive impacts in people’s lives."
One of his goals is to break down silos and barriers to clinical research and to foster an environment that promotes strong teams.
"Success for me will be defined by the number of connections we make between learners, faculty and the public that result in new or expanded research teams engaging in clinical research projects. Teams with good access to the amazing resources at UNMC and our regional partners will naturally grow, do good work and secure funding."
"Dr. McCulloh has great accomplishments in clinical research with critical outreach and involvement of underserved populations," said Howard Fox, MD, PhD, senior associate dean of research and development at the college. "His joint appointments at Children’s Hospital & Medical Center and UNMC will further strengthen the interactions between these two leading institutions, and his new position will enable him to use his skills to advance other’s work. Importantly, his focus on team-building is key to our ability to perform high-level work that impacts health, disease and people’s lives."
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Meet at Fellow CHRI Member |
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Joseph A. Vetro, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences,
College of Pharmacy, UNMC
What is your current primary area of research?
My primary area is developing nanoscale dosage forms to improve the systemic pharmacotherapy of pediatric and adult cancers.
Please share information on a current research project.
Our long-term goal is to develop novel drug products that can be developed for the clinical treatment of both pediatric and adult cancers. We are currently working to improve the cytotoxic chemotherapy of solid tumors by encapsulating hydrophobic, small molecule antineoplastic drugs in polymer-based nanoscale dosage forms. As proof of concept, we are encapsulating hydrophobic alkylating agents (e.g., chlorambucil, busulfan, melphalan) in targeted, peripherally cross-linked polymer micelles and comparing toxicity, potency and efficacy to unencapsulated drugs in mouse models of neuroblastoma and triple negative breast cancer.
What has been the primary benefit of CHRI membership?
CHRI provides opportunity to work closely with pediatric oncologists to keep our research clinically relevant.
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CHRI Promotes Diversity in Research |
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Diversity in research is the 2022 organization-wide emphasis of CHRI, which is committed to establishing a strong foundation for diversity equity and inclusion in all its operations, as it advances vital research in diverse populations.
"There has never been a better time to examine our practices, beliefs and values as investigators and as an institution,” says Ann Anderson Berry, MD, PhD, CHRI Executive Director. “CHRI's staff has wholeheartedly embraced this initiative. The support from Jennifer Larsen, MD, UNMC vice chancellor of research; Shirley Delair, MD, UNMC associate dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and Sherrita Strong, MD, DFAPA, UNMC assistant vice-chancellor of inclusion, as well as CHRI's sponsoring institutions and our internal advisory board, makes it possible to begin this journey of DEI with strong footing. While this is a 2022 initiative, the lessons learned in the coming year must set the tone for constant work and self-examination of practices to perform just and scientifically-sound child health research.”
“Lack of knowledge of the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion research concepts in child health results in incomplete understanding of disease processes, the full impact of interventions and population outcomes,” Dr. Ann Anderson Berry adds. “Outcomes are impacted by poor study designs, unrepresentative subject recruitment and a myriad of other factors that confound results if research is implemented without a DEI lens.”
In an effort to promote and incentivize the issues of diversity in research, CHRI is hosting a “DEI in Research” monthly journal club beginning in June 2022 and has issued a Request for Applications (RFA) for two competitive $50,000 Health Equity grants available to members of CHRI. A CHRI membership application can be accessed here. Beyond the RFA program, CHRI will continue to evaluate all internal funding proposals through a DEI lens and will work closely with the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research on campus-wide DEI initiatives, including consenting, subject recruitment, staff hiring and pipeline development.
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CHRI Grant Application Now Totally Electronic |
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The CHRI Grant Application is now electronic. This transition will help the institute better track submissions and outcomes. Keep this new feature in mind as you consider or prepare for the next cycle, due May 15. An application guide and helpful templates for the applications are available within the CHRI Member Portal. Reach out to chri@unmc.edu with questions or concerns. |
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UNMC Core Facility Profile:
Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core Facility
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Some of the equipment available at the MSPCF |
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Dragana Lagundžin, PhD, Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Core Facility (MSPCF) Manager, kindly provided responses to our questions regarding how the MSPCF can be of use to CHRI researchers.
What kind of services do you offer to researchers?
MSPCF at the University of Nebraska Medical Center can support your research by offering a number of services. We provide state-of-the-art high-performance mass spectrometry services, including all aspects of protein characterization, qualitative and quantitative proteomics, expert consultation, sample preparation (from cells, tissues, physiological fluids), molecular weight determination and small molecule analysis, protein-protein interaction analysis and protein post-translational analysis. Our core is equipped with: Orbitrap Fusion Lumos, Orbitrap Exploris, 6500+ QTRAP, Autoflex maX MALDI-TOF/TOF state-of-the-art mass spectrometers and has advanced software platforms for mass spectrometry data analysis.
What are the initial steps for engaging the services of the MSPCF?
We are only an email away! Please contact us at mspcf@unmc.edu with questions or to schedule a meeting.
Do you have experience supporting pediatric researchers?
Our Core continues to support researchers from many fields, including pediatric researchers. We have had successful collaborations with pediatric researchers in the past.
What should a CHRI member do before reaching out to the MSPCF for help with their research?
Nothing specific needs to be done before contacting us. However, visiting our website might be helpful.
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Disseminating Discoveries:
April Publications
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Take a minute to check out the wide range of research published by CHRI members in April. |
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2023 Young Investigator Grant
Funder: Alex's Lemonade Stand
Amount: Up to $50,000 annually for three years.
Deadline: December 12, 2022
Opportunity Type: Core Facility Voucher Program
Research Topic/Areas: Bioimaging & Nanomaterial Characterization Core Facilities
Sponsor: Nebraska Center for Nanomedicine COBRE
Budget Amount: Core Voucher up to $5,000
Budget Period: Must be used within 1 year (by May 31, 2023)
Eligibility: UNMC tenured or tenure-track faculty
Deadline: June 15, 2022
Sponsor: CureSearch for Children's Cancer
Young Investigator Award: An opportunity for funding up to $75,000 per year, for up to three years. CureSearch Young Investigator Awards provide seed support for bright researchers early in their careers who are pursuing novel research in pediatric oncology therapeutics. This program seeks to retain and train the next generation of pediatric cancer drug developers.
Catapult Award: An opportunity for funding in the range of $500,000 – $2.5 million for phase 1 or 2 clinical trials. The CureSearch Catapult Award aims to overcome barriers to pediatric cancer drug development by providing meaningful early-phase trial funding in order to accelerate the development of promising pediatric cancer therapeutic strategies.
The application window opens on June 6, 2022. Letters of Intent are to be submitted by July 18, 2022.
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Child Health Research Institute
986847 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-6847
402-559-4032 or 402-955-7907
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