Explore UAB

The Pediatric Research Office (PRO) supports those conducting pediatric research at Children's of Alabama by providing expertise and connections to resources. For assistance or to learn more, please contact Cheryl Perry, PhD, PRO Administrative Director.

Requesting Clinical Research Data

Pediatric Faculty Expertise Database

Funding Opportunities

Financial Information, Forms and Budgets

Proposal Development and Boilerplate

Conducting Research at Children's of Alabama 

About the Pediatric Research Office


Requesting Clinical Research Data

For clinical research data requests, please contact Eric Macomb, the PRO Informaticist. He will work with the COA Portal to ensure that your request is handled in a timely manner.

Back to top


Pediatric Faculty Expertise Database

The PRO maintains a Pediatric Faculty Expertise Database that includes DOP faculty information on scholarly and/or research interests; interest in mentoring students, residents, fellows and post-docs; and research involvement as measured by number of publications and current funding. It is updated annually and was last updated during the Summer of 2023. The database is stored on a password-protected UAB SharePoint site and login requires use of your UAB BlazerID, password, and DUO authentication. Questions? Contact Melissa McBrayer

If you are interested in looking for research or collaborators at UAB, but outside of the Department of Pediatrics, visit Scholars@UAB

Back to top


Funding Opportunities

Internal Funding Opportunities

Federal Funding Opportunities

Grants.gov allows organizations and individuals to electronically find and apply for competitive grant opportunities from all Federal grant-making agencies. Visit UAB's Office of Research - Find Funding page for more information and links. 

Pivot-RP Global Search for Funding Opportunities

Track and share funding opportunities, save searches, get automatic alerts, edit your profile, view groups and more.  Access Pivot-RP by using "login from my institution" drop-down and selected University of Alabama at Birmingham. Then enter your BlazerID and strong password. Finally,create your Pivot account.

Back to top


Financial Information, Forms and Budgets

UAB Information 

Information Specific to the Department of Pediatrics

The Department of Pediatrics Finance Office staff provide assistance to faculty for pre and post-award activities.  A quick reference list is provided for convenience.  


Cognizant's Shared Investigator Platform (SIP)

SIP may be used by industry sponsors to advance research projects. As instructed by the UAB Clinical Trials Administration Office, the Department of Pediatrics has a profile developed with UAB information. Additional guidance for getting started with SIP is available here.

  • Which facility do I choose for my user profile?
    University of Alabama at Birmingham - School of Medicine
    FC092220182020022711

  • Which department do I choose for my user profile?
    Pediatrics
    FC120920202002204356

Do not develop a new UAB facility or Pediatrics department profile in SIP. If you need to add information to the Pediatric departmental profile, please send a request to Melissa McBrayer.  Do not develop a SIP profile for Children’s of Alabama. Research at Children’s of Alabama is conducted by UAB faculty and staff under legal agreements and regulatory oversight of UAB (Office of Sponsored Programs, Institutional Review Board, etc.). Children’s of Alabama is a performance site and not the entity with whom industry sponsors have legal agreement.

Back to top


Proposal Development and Boilerplate

  • Pediatric Research-related Boilerplate Information  appropriate for cut-and-paste into resource documents. Updated annually.

  • Center for Clinical and Translational Science (CCTS) Established in 2008 and funded by a Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (National Institutes of Health grant UL1TR003096), the CCTS is one of more than 50 CTSA programs nationwide and the only CTSA in Alabama. Visit the CCTS for training, reseach implementation, and grant-writing resources such as the Grant-Writing Intensive (GRIT). 

Back to top


Conducting Research at Children's of Alabama

Children's of Alabama implemented Epic as its electronic medical record effective March 4, 2023.

New Research Coordinator?
View on-boarding document and email Melissa McBrayer to be added to a contact list for updates. The following links are helpful for getting started using Epic as an RC. 

Epic Access for medical students and others that need view only access for research.

Complete/submit the following.  Questions?  Email Melissa.

  1. IT Remote Access form

  2. Security access request form: https://www.jotform.com/coa-hris/security

  3. COA Non-Employee Affiliate Account request form: https://form.jotform.com/coa-hris/affiliate

COA Investigational Pharmacy

Study drug? Review and complete the release. Contact Adrienne Eades, PharmD, COA Investigational Pharmacist with questions.

Compassionate Use Agreements

  • PIs considering a compassionate use agreement must first email Nancy Corona of COA.

UAB OnCore and Clinical Billing Review (CBR) Fiscal Approval Process

  • Protocols that contain UAB Health System clinical billables will require CBR review for the Fiscal Approval Process (FAP) and an OnCore calendar may be needed.

  • Complete the information, as applicable, in the REDcap form found here. This form contains questions that were formerly submitted via the CBR workbook, the Oncore Calendar Services REDCap request form, and the CCTS Clinical Support Registration form. 

  • Department of Pediatrics' clinical billables (e.g. professional read fees for EKG, EEG; Simon Sedation physicians; echocardiography for research, etc.) will continue to be processed through the Pediatric Business Office (see COA Research Pre-Registration Form for instruction). 

Other helps for Clinical Reseach Coordinators

About the Pediatric Research Office (PRO)

The UAB Department of Pediatrics established the Pediatric Research Office (PRO) in 2015 to renew its commitmentRS28789 RS28789 David Kimberlin 6 original scr to the generation of new knowledge in the diagnosis, treatment, and sequelae of pediatric diseases. Building upon a tradition of accomplishment illustrated by consistent rankings within the top 20 (and often top 10) of pediatric departments in terms of NIH research funding, the PRO seeks to “lower the energy of activation” in the design, conduct, and analysis of research conducted within Children’s of Alabama. This allows our physician-scientists to focus on the science of the research while relying on the highly skilled PRO staff to assist with the regulatory, biostatistical, data management, and other components key to the successful conduct of pediatric investigation (described below). By providing this support, the PRO accelerates our research to go farther faster, enhancing the overall funding prospects for pediatric research at UAB, and thus expanding medical options for the children of Alabama and beyond.

David W. Kimberlin, MD
Vice Chair for Clinical and Translational Research, Department of Pediatrics

Cheryl Perry, PhD, PRO Administrative Director. Triages requests for assistance related to grant development, biostatistics, data needs, and regulatory assistance; edits applications for consistency and accuracy; reviews Child Health Research Unit applications for use of the Unit and serves as back-up for scheduling and management; and develops and negotiates industry budgets and budget amendments. Contact Cheryl Perry by email or phone (205-638-2590) initially for any PRO requests.

Eric Macomb, Informatics. Supports data retrieval from data warehouse or clinical programs for feasibility assessments, preliminary data, research protocols, etc. and ensures proper oversight of data requests for research; and provides data visualization needed for research publications.

Melissa McBrayer, Research and Training.  Assists with the development of research and career development applications (including mentor selection, letters of support, biosketches, career development plans); assists study coordinators with COA research processes/EPIC, OnCore/CBR procedures, SIP and other research-related tasks; schedules and manages the Child Health Research Unit; and serves as a speaker on relevant topics.

Fazlur Rahman, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biostatistics. Provides assistance with sample size assessment, study design, biostatistical analysis planning, DSMB reports, final analyses at end of study, and final study report generation. 

Susan Branscum, Clinical Trials Administrator (Regulatory).  Provides consultation and assistance with IRB applications and regulatory documents. 

Emily Mixon, Data Management. Provides consultation and assistance with data collection and database development and management (TeleForm, SAS, EpiInfo, REDCap), data analysis and modeling, and also facilitates training in these areas.

Back to top