Maran Ramani, M.D., Neonatology, was recently selected for an award by the Perinatal Research Society (PRS) Young Investigator program to attend the upcoming Perinatal Research Society Annual Meeting and the NIH - Abbott Nutrition Pre-meeting Workshop September 21-25, 2016.
Eleven School of Medicine faculty projects were recently funded through an AMC21 initiative giving NIH-funded investigators incentive to submit a second R01. Suresh Boppana, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease, received the grant for the project, “The Role of T Cell Responses in Controlling HCMV Transmission via Breast Milk.” The 11 projects, chosen based on scientific merit, were eligible for $50,000 per year, for a project period of up to two years, pending appropriate progress and achieving benchmarks. The goal is to have a new funded R01 by the second year.
The NIH Awarded a R21 grant to Bill Britt, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease, for his study, “Identification of pre-fusion conformers of HCMV gB,” in the amount of $203,000 for the period 07/01/2016 – 06/30/2018. 
The American Academy of Nursing selected Wendy Landier, PhD, RN, Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, among 164 highly distinguished nurse leaders, in the 2016 class of Academy fellows. The inductees will be honored at a ceremony held during the Academy's annual policy conference in October 2016 in Washington, D.C. New fellows will be eligible to use the FAAN credential (fellow of the American Academy of Nursing) after the induction ceremony takes place in October. Dr. Landier's credentials will be Wendy Landier, PhD, RN, CRNP, PPCNP-BC,CPON, FAAN.
Congratulations to Megan Yanik, M.D., Pediatric Nephrology Fellow, on receiving the 2015-2016 Spring CHIF/Fellow Core Conference Attendance Award. This award supports the attendance of the scientific meeting of her choice, within the United States.
The Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally) has awarded a $100,000 grant to support the research of Gregory Friedman, M.D., Pediatric Hematology & Oncology. The grant brings funding from Rally to $230,000 since 2013. The grant is co-funded with The Truth 365, a non-profit organization that raises awareness and funding for childhood cancer research by being a voice for all children fighting cancer.The competitive Rally Foundation Grant was awarded to Dr. Friedman to support his research targeting pediatric medulloblastoma with engineered herpes simplex virus. Dr. Friedman was selected as an award recipient because of the importance and quality of his work, the excellence of the candidate and the potential impact of this research to childhood cancer care.
To read the full Children's of Alabama press release, click here.
U.S. News & World Report has once-again ranked Children’s of Alabama among the best children’s hospitals in the nation. Eight of Children’s pediatric specialty services – cardiology/heart surgery, diabetes/endocrinology, gastroenterology/GI surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology/neurosurgery, pulmonology and urology – were ranked among the top 50 in the U.S. in the 2016-17 Best Children’s Hospital rankings. It is Children’s seventh-consecutive year to be ranked. The complete listing and corresponding rankings can be found on the U.S. News and World Report website. Children’s is the only pediatric facility in the state of Alabama to have been ranked and one of just 36 hospitals with eight or more specialties on the list of more than 180 hospitals that were surveyed. Thanks to all UAB Department of Pediatrics and Children's staff for your commitment to improve the health of the children of Alabama.
A reception was held on June 15 to honor the award recipients of the 2016 Dean's Excellence Awards at the Wallace Tumor Institute. See all the photos from the event here. Congratulations once again to Drs. Lauren Nassetta and Rich Whitley.Additional congratulations and recognition belongs to all Department of Pediatrics faculty who were nominated for this year's awards.Other nominated faculty include:
Hussein Abdul-Latif, M.D., Teaching, Senior Faculty
Jeffrey Alten, M.D., Service, Senior Faculty
David Askenazi, M.D., Service, Senior Faculty
Maaike Everts, Ph.D., Service, Senior Faculty
Kathy Monroe, M.D., Service, Senior Faculty
William Sasser, M.D., Diversity, Junior Faculty
Brian Sims, M.D., Ph.D., Mentoring, Senior Faculty
The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Board of Trustees has selected David Kimberlin, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease, to receive the RMHC 2016 Medical Award of Excellence. In 1986, RMHC created this award to honor a child healthcare advocate who made great contributions to improving the quality of life for children. Today, the award continues to honor a true pioneer in the medical community and acknowledges their extraordinary track record of accomplishment and service to medicine and children. The award carries with it a gift of $100,000 that will be contributed to the children’s charity of the awardee's choice.
David Kimberlin, M.D., Pediatric Infectious Disease, has been elected to serve as Chair of the UAB School of Medicine Faculty Council effective immediately. The Faculty Council Committee is considered the principal advisory committee to the dean of the School of Medicine and is responsible for providing written review and assessment of appointments, promotion, and tenure award for all clinical and basic science faculty.