Children’s of Alabama and the Kaul Pediatric Research Institute (KPRI) are pleased to announce the 2019 awards. The major goal of the KPRI grant program is to allow investigators to obtain data that will advantage applications for additional extramural funding. This will bring new knowledge to the care of children, leverage the investment of the KPRI, and allow projects to be competitive for the very best science on the national stage. A second, but important, goal is to ensure that a dedicated funding source is available to unique segments of the pediatric research, education, and quality improvement enterprise.
This year, two categories of grants were funded: New Investigator Awards, and Established Investigator Awards. All funded applications are directed toward the improvement of child health care. Thank you to all who submitted applications! Congratulations to the following awardees.
New Investigator Awards
Ammar Alishlash, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine
Prostacyclin Agonist Therapy for Acute Chest Syndrome in Sickle Cell Mouse Model
Emily E. Johnston, M.D., MS
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
End-of-Life Care of AL Children with Cancer: Disparities and Parent Priorities
Michael A. Lopez, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Neurology
Smad8 in Dystrophic Muscle Disease & Its Role in MicroRNA Regulation & Disease
Donna L. Murdaugh, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
A Longitudinal Pilot Study Examining Neurocognitive Outcomes in Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Before and After a Cognitive Remediation Program
Gabriela R. Oates, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine
Technology-Enabled Patient Support System for Self-management of Pediatric Cystic Fibrosis
Swetha G. Pinninti, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Pediatric Infectious Disease
Significance of co-infection with CMV and STI’s during pregnancy
Aman Wadhwa, M.D.
Instructor (7/1/2019)
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Body Composition and Adverse Outcomes in Childhood Cancer
Established Investigator Award
Shannon A. Ross, M.D., MSPH
Associate Professor
Pediatric Infectious Disease
Neuroimaging Findings and Hearing Outcome in Asymptomatic Congenital CMV Infection
Tamera Coyne-Beasley, M.D., Adolescent Medicine, was nominated and appointed to a consensus study committee on Applying Lessons of Optimal Adolescent Health to Improve Behavioral Outcomes for Youth with the Board on Children, Youth and Families at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM). The NASEM received and considered over 180 nominations for this consensus comittee. Congratulations Dr. Coyne-Beasley!
Mary Lynch, M.A., Ph.D. student and member of the REACH Lab, was named one of three College of Arts and Sciences' 2019 Dean's Award Graduate recipients. Recipients of this highly competitive award represent the very best that UAB can achieve. This award honors the work and research the students have produced with so much passion, dedication and hard work and recognizes their unique and outstanding academic accomplishments. The outstanding students and Dean’s Award recipients will be honored and recognized at Honors Convocation on Tuesday, April 16 at 4 p.m. at the Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center. Congratulations Mary!
Last Saturday, February 2, the Practical Day of Pediatrics conference returned to the Bradley Lecture Center for the first time in over a decade. More than 70 primary care pediatricians and nurse practitioners from around the state learned about topics relevant to everyday situations seen in their practices. Local pediatricians were surveyed last year to gauge their main areas of interest. The topics included: Red Book Update and Vaccines with David Kimberlin, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease; Preventing and Managing Food Allergies with Amy CaJacob, M.D., Pediatric Allergy and Immumology; Endocrine roundtable discussions with Pallavi Iyer, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, (Puberty – Normal, Early and Delayed), Ambika Ashraf, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, (Dyslipidemia in Children With and Without Diabetes) and Mary Lauren Scott, M.D., Pediatric Endocrinology, (Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome); Pain Control and Opioid Use Disorder with Garrett Hurst, M.D., UAB Palliative Care; and Functional Neurological Disorders and Functional Pain with Aaron Fobian, Ph.D., UAB Psychology.
Practical Day of Pediatrics is a collaboration of the UAB Department of Pediatrics, Children’s of Alabama and the Jefferson County Pediatric Society. Members of the organizing committee (pictured) are: Christina Cochran, M.D., Pediatric Emergency Medicine (not pictured), Liesel French, M.D., Community Physician, Brian Dudgeon, M.D., Community Physician, Erinn Schmit, M.D.,Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Adolfo Molina, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Tiffany Kaczorowski, COA Corporate Communications and Bob Pass, M.D., Pediatric Hospital Medicine.
Namasivayam Ambalavanan, M.D., Neonatology, has been named the first recipient of the Virginia Walker Jones Endowed Chair in Neonatology. The chair honors the outstanding contribution of Dr. "Ambal", both locally and nationally, as well as the long-standing service of Virginia Walker Jones to the Children's of Alabama Board of Trustees. Congratulations to Ambal and Walker!
Wendy Landier, Ph.D., RN, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2019 UCLA School of Nursing Distinguished Alumni Award for Excellence in Research, Platinum Bruin. Dr. Landier was selected for conducting an outstanding and renowned program of research, and advancing the practice of nursing health and healthcare through scholarly research. Honorees in this category exemplify the highest caliber associated with a UCLA School of Nursing degree and excellence and dedication in the profession. An acceptance ceremony will be held on April 27 in Los Angeles, California at the UCLA Luskin Center.
Matthew Alexander, Ph.D., Pediatric Neurology, has been selected as Pittman Scholar in the UAB School of Medicine. This esteemed group was created to honor the legacy of Dr. James A. Pittman, Jr., the longest-serving dean in our School’s history. Dr. Pittman was an outstanding physician and scientist, and is also remembered as a lively and energetic teacher and mentor of students and faculty. As a Pittman Scholar, Dr. Alexander will receive funding to support his research or scholarly enrichment. Click here for the other Pittman Scholars.
Congratulations Dr. Alexander!
The Department of Pediatrics is now seeking applications for the Dixon Fellowship Training Program for the 2019 academic year. Candidates will be selected on a competitive basis and upon a Review Committee’s analysis of the written application. As part of this prestigious award, recipients benefit from salary support and an additional $5,000 per year discretionary funds to support research and continuing education activities. For the academic year starting in July 2019, we will select up to three candidates who will be starting their second or third year of training. The initial award is for a period of one year with continued support contingent upon annual review of the fellow’s progress.
Applications should be emailed or delivered to Clare Mallette in 5 Dearth Tower, Suite 5606, no later than Friday, April 12, 2018. Scholarship recipients will be announced by the end of May.
Questions? Contact Michele Kong, M.D., Pediatric Critical Care or Clare Mallette.
Deadline: Friday, April 12 | More information
The Pediatric Fellowship office is seeking applications for the Chu Family Educational Scholarship for Fall 2019. Candidates will be selected on a competitive basis and upon a Review Committee’s analysis of the written application. For the academic year starting in July 2019, one to two candidates will be selected to receive a $5000 scholarship for their chosen educational endeavor.
Applications should be emailed or delivered to Ronda Chandler in the Sergio Stagno Center, 4th Floor Dearth Tower, no later than Friday, April 12, 2019. Scholarship recipients will be announced late May or early June.
Questions? Contact Ann Klasner, M.D. or Ronda Chandler.
Deadline: Friday, April 12 | More information
The major goal of the KPRI quality and safety grant program is to allow teams to identify and address specific quality and safety issues that cannot easily be addressed using existing operational resources or structures. The significance of all efforts must be readily apparent. Priority will be given to applications that align with the priorities established annually by the Quality Improvement Council (QIC). In addition, special consideration will be given to collaborative projects that involve multidisciplinary teams. Up to $50,000 will be committed annually. In general, the first year of funding for each proposal will be for $25,000 or less, but exceptions will be considered based if appropriately justified. Click here for more information about the grant and award process.
Applications for awards must be submitted electronically to mary.aiken@childrensal.org by 4:30 p.m. on April 15. Late applications will not be considered. Applications must comply with a standardized format for the application to be reviewed.
All applications will be reviewed by a Quality Safety Proposal Review committee (QSPR). Awards will be announced after the KPRI meeting on July 1.
Deadline: Monday, April 15 | More information | Application