Research

The Big Picture

Building upon the department’s distinguished history of research innovation and impact, we will work to increase fundamental knowledge about child physical and intellectual development and develop improved interventions to promote child health..

Why It’s Important, and How We'll Do It

• Our fundamental research contributes to a vibrant academic environment helping to attract and retain the best and brightest faculty.
• Our clinical and translational research helps us discover novel treatments, such as the HiB vaccine to prevent bacterial pneumonia and surfactant therapy to help premature babies breathe.
• Our clinical trials research ensures the best care and treatments are available to children in the Rochester community.
• Our health services research allows us to determine the best way to bring interventions to our diverse community in an inclusive and equitable manner.

We will continue to build collaborative “scientific communities” passionate to help every child reach their fullest potential.

Goals & Accomplishments

Goal: Growth

Accomplishments:

• Realized 25% growth in research activities and funding over last 4 years.
• Realized 10% increase in research productivity as evidenced by >150 publications annually.
• Improved research administration and supported research enterprise growth by developing a unified and integrated Pediatric Research Office.

Goal: Faculty Development

Accomplishments:

• Partnered with Education Pillar to improve Pediatric Scientist Development programs.
• Initiated research mentorship group for early career faculty.
• Partnered with other institutional stakeholders to integrate research career development efforts across campus.
• Increased federal NIH funding for our early career scientists to record levels.

Goal: Recognition

Accomplishments:

• Our faculty have held numerous prestigious positions of national recognition including President of the Society for Pediatric Research and Program Chair at the Pediatric Academic Societies conference.
• Further expanded national recognition by sponsoring successful academic and social activities at the annual conference for the Pediatric Academic Societies.
• Had a record number of invited and oral research presentations by our faculty and trainees at national and international conferences.

Goal: Community

Accomplishments:

• Working to build a “Culture of Community” across the Pediatrics research enterprise.
• Developed Children’s Health Research Seminar Series.
• Initiated plans for a university-wide Whole Child Research Institute to facilitate collaboration across schools and campuses.

For further information on research goals, please contact Thomas Mariani, Ph.D.

Learn More About Our Plan in Action

• Uncovering the Secrets of the Lung, One Cell at a Time - GCH is Leading the Way in Providing High-Quality Human Lung Samples to Help Cure Rare Diseases
• The Last Mile - New therapies, treatments, and mRNA technologies have potential to cure Cystic Fibrosis
• Nothing to Sneeze at: Study Seeks to Understand Allergic Resistance of Old Order Mennonites - With a $7 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), pediatric researchers will study the farming lifestyle of the Old Order Mennonite population and its correlation with lower rates of allergic disease.