Research Positions

Alberta Children’s Hospital, University of Calgary
Clinical Call?: Depends on applicant; if yes, 1;5
Number of Years: 1 to 2
Program Director: David Sigalet
Mechanism of Support: Institutional/ Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Investigation of Mechanisms and Physiology of Glucagon-like Peptide 2 in Short Bowel Syndrome, & intestinal inflammation. Includes full translational project, from animal work, correlative human studies in infants, and a phase 1 trial in human infants.

 

Alberta Children's Hospital, University of Calgary
Clinical Call?: Depends on applicant; if yes, 1;5
Number of Years: 1 to 2
Program Director: David Sigalet, MD
Mechanism of Support: Institutional/ Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Investigation of Mechanisms and Physiology of Glucagon-like Peptide 2 in Short Bowel Syndrome, & intestinal inflammation. Includes full translational project, from animal work, correlative human studies in infants, and a phase 1 trial in human infants.

 

Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center
Clinical Call?: Clinical Call?: 3-4 times per month
Number of Years: 1 to 3
Program Director: Dennis Vane, MD
Website: http://www.cardinalglennon.com/MedicalSpecialties/SurgeryServices/
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The division of Pediatric Surgery and the St. Louis Fetal Care Institute at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center are pleased to announce the availability of multiple funded research and education fellowship positions to start in July 2010. The positions are for one to two years with possibility of extension. Fellows will work with a faculty mentor to complete clinical or applied scientific projects within the fellowship period. Applicants must have completed at least three years of training in an approved surgical residency in the United States or Canada and have appropriate Visa’s or permanent US residency. Potential areas of research/education include: MPH or MBA Development of wire guided techniques for fetal intervention. Testing of novel uterine membrane sealing devices for fetal surgery Development and testing of novel methods for tracheal occlusion Gastroschisis outcomes based on prenatal planning and delivery mode Congenital diaphragmatic hernia outcomes based on fetal prognostication The use of heparin-free ECMO in CDH repair Pediatric Trauma and Critical Care Neonatal Nutrition

 

Children’s Hospital of New York, Columbia University
Clinical Call?: ECMO call
Program Director: Robert Cowles, MD
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Research position (basic science); investigation of neuroenteric responses to stress such as bowel resection and ischemia-reperfusion injury

 

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Clinical Call?: No more than once per week/optional
Number of Years: 2 to 3
Program Director: Alan W. Flake, MD
Website: http://www.chop.edu
Mechanism of Support: NIH T32 Training Grant in Fetal Biology and Therapy
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The Center for Fetal Research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia conducts basic science and translational research directed toward improving our understanding of the pathophysiology of fetal disease and the development of novel strategies for prenatal treatment of fetal, pediatric, and anticipated adult disease. Specific areas include fetal stem cell and gene therapy, fetal wound healing, fetal lung growth and the treatment of pulmonary hypoplasia, and investigations in animal models of human disease such as myelomeningocele and gastroschisis.

 

Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin
Clinical Call?: Yes. Variable-currently 1 in 12.
Program Director: Keith T. Oldham, MD
Website: http://www.chw.org
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Vascular biology with emphasis on endothelial cell biology and inflammatory tissue injury.  Translational emphasis

 

Children’s National Medical Center
Clinical Call?: Yes. As needed – 1/5
Number of Years: 1 to 2
Program Director: Anthony Sandler
Website: http://www.dcchildrens.com
Mechanism of Support: Institutional, NIH and private grants
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Tumor immunology: Tumor vaccine formulation, efficacy and tumor immunity. Tumor immunosuppression. Pre-clinical studies.

 

Children’s National Medical Center
Clinical Call?: Optional 1/5 nights
Number of Years: 1 to 3
Program Director: Cynthia Gingalewski, MD
Website: http://www.cnmc.org
Mechanism of Support: Institutional/other
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The laboratory focus is upon the interactions between the intestinal mucosal barrier and the innate immune response during intestinal inflammation, specifically in relation to NEC. A mouse model is used as well as basic science bench work.

 

Childrens Hospital Boston
Clinical Call?: Optional
Number of Years: 1 to 3
Program Director: Tom Jaksic MD, PhD
Website: http://www.childrenshospital.org
Mechanism of Support: NIH and Foundation Grants
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The Pediatric Surgical Laboratories at Childrens Hospital Boston seek research fellows for July 1st, 2008. These positions are fully funded. Our areas of research interest include tissue engineering, transplantation, surgical nutrition, fetal therapy and biology, surgical and medical management of short bowel syndrome, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, oncology, angiogenisis, and vascular anomalies. If interested please forward your CV to Tom Jaksic MD, PhD.

 

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
Clinical Call?: 4-5x/month
Program Director: Tracy C. Grikscheit
Website: http://www.usc.edu/programs/pibbs/site/faculty/grikscheit_t.htm
Mechanism of Support: CIRM
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Tissue-Engineered Intestine or other stem cell-based therapies to increase the available surface area of the gastrointestinal tract are attractive research targets to design additional ways to salvage patients. True tissue-engineering approaches may make use of organ specific stem cells or cells resulting from an ES, iPS, or bone-marrow-derived cell strategy and biodegradable or bioadaptable scaffolds, but most importantly result in actual tissues with all necessary components of the organ (intestine) or subpart of the organ (islet) no matter how rudimentary. Eventually, the goal is to generate tissue identical to native portions of the gastrointestinal tract. Our focus is understanding the stem cell niche in order to design future human therapies. Research fellows are rapidly integrated into an ownership role on projects that have already "gotten off the ground" in order to maximize their results over the two year commitment. The goal is for them to have adequate data during the fellowship to be able to present locally and nationally in both basic science and pediatric surgery forums. The educational opportunities at CHLA and the Saban Research Institute are integrated into the fellowship with weekly chalk talks, laboratory meetings, and Institute lectures as well as the clinical opportunities with the department of pediatric surgery including NICU rounds, visiting professors, and teaching sessions. Fellows with an interest in clinical projects are encouraged to work with the other pediatric surgeons in the division as well.

 

Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Clinical Call?: 4-5 X/month
Program Director: Henri Ford
Website: http://childrenshospitalla.org
Mechanism of Support: Institutional/NIH
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Necrotizing Enterocolitis: The central hypothesis is that immaturity of the neonatal gut barrier, coupled with mucosal damage caused by hypoxia or other perinatal insults, and the intestinal microbial flora predispose the premature infant to bacterial invasion. Bacterial-epithelial interactions result in local release of inflammatory mediators including endotoxin (LPS), IFN-g and TNF-a, which lead to sustained upregulation of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS or NOS-2) and overproduction of NO and/or peroxynitrite (ONOO-) in the intestinal epithelium. NO or ONOO- leads to further tissue injury (enterocyte apoptosis) and inhibition of tissue repair mechanisms (enterocyte proliferation and enterocyte migration). The resulting imbalance between tissue injury and repair mechanisms leads to a vicious cycle of injury and uncontrolled inflammatory response with release of other mediators. The net effect is further tissue destruction, intestinal perforation and systemic sepsis, as seen in advanced NEC. Gut Barrier Dysfunction: Derangement in the intestinal mucosal barrier may play an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic infection in critically ill patients.

 

Children's Hospital of Alabama
Clinical Call?: Variable
Number of Years: 1 to 2
Program Director: Elizabeth Beierle
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Tumor Biology

 

Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Department of Cellular Biology, University of Ottawa, Division of Pediatric General Surgery.

Clinical Call?: 0 to 5X per month
Number of Years: 1 to 2
Program Director: Dr. Shirley Chou, Prog Di
Secondary Contact: Research correspondence: Dr. Marcos Bettolli, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada
Website: http://www.cheo.on.ca
Mechanism of Support: Institutional/Univ of Ottawa/local & national research grants
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:

The focus of the research group is the enteric motor function of the gut in newborns, infants and children. Normal intestine; intestine in Hirschsprung's Disease and intestine with inflammatory pathology are being studied. Practically the laboratory work involves intestinal wall layer dissection both in human and animal specimens. The dissected intestinal wall is then submitted to immunohistochemistry, which is complemented by electron microscopy. This results in accurate detailed and reproducible immunohistochemistry of the enteric nervous system, the interstitial cells of Cajal and their integrative microscopic and electron microscopic connections. To date the results of this research have been presented at peer reviewed national and international meetings and have been published in international scientific journals. One of the specific projects that the Pediatric Surgical Fellow may be interested in is our investigations into the Pathophysiology of the Colonic Dysmotility in Hirschsprung's Disease in the proximal normal ganglionated intestine after the aganglionic colon has been resected.

Laboratory work will be supervised by Dr. A. Krantis and Dr. W. Staines from the Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Ottawa. Co-workers will include Dr. Marcos Bettolli, a previous research fellow and now the newest recruit to our Pediatric Surgical Dept at CHEO. The research fellow co-worker for the next year will be Dr. Claudio DeCarli, the present Pediatric Research Fellow who commenced his fellowship on July l, 2006. Initially the research fellow will be trained in the intricate techniques involved in preparing the sections including immunohistochemistry. These sections will be obtained both from operative specimens at the time of resection after consultation with the clinical pathologist at CHEO. In addition there will be laboratory animal specimens.

As a result of the excellent rapport between the clinical pathology laboratory at CHEO and our research unit, the research fellow is informed of all human specimens so that there is no delay and the correct specimen is obtained. All studies have research ethics approval of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario as well as the animal facility at the University of Ottawa.

Dr. Krantis is the Chairman of the Research group and regular weekly meetings with all members of the group discuss the present status of the research. The meetings take place in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology with Dr. Krantis and Dr. Staines in attendance.

The research studies are done in collaboration with two other leading Canadian Institutions. Dr. J. Huizinga, Director of Gastrointestinal Research at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, is a world recognized authority on the histology and the functions of Interstitial Cells of Cajal. All the electron microscopy is done in his laboratory. Regular visits take place between members of the two institutions. The research fellow will go to McMaster on these visits and be present at the time that Dr. Huizinga is in our laboratory in Ottawa. Due to the close collaboration between the Pediatric Surgical unit at CHEO and the Division of General Surgery at Sainte Justines Children's Hospital, GI specimens from Montreal are transferred to CHEO. The Division meets with Ste. Justine's three times a year. At these meetings the results of the research are discussed.

The clinical activity of the research fellow is negotiated with each appointee. In general the contract with the research fellow includes clinical activity and OR participation. The excellent rapport between the research laboratory and the clinical pediatric surgical unit allows the fellow to participate in the clinical training program as well. On call duties and OR participation may be limited on occasions by laboratory activity. These clinical duties in the applicants’ job description will be negotiated with the successful candidate in the presence of Dr. Shirley Chou the Program Director for Pediatric General Surgery Training at CHEO.

Funding for the research project is ongoing and obtained from various local and national research granting agencies.

At the end of the fellowship the trainees will be expert in the preparation of gastrointestinal tissue. They will be familiar with multiple immunohistochemical staining techniques for muscles, nerve cells and nerve fibers and interstitial cells of Cajal in specimens from the GI tract. The fellow will be experienced in presentations of research work and preparations of publications for peer reviewed journals. She/He will also be capable of completing a research grant application. All of this will enable him to independently establish his own laboratory for clinical research in Pediatric Surgery.

In addition he may if he desires, prepare a masters (or doctoral thesis) based on the work done in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology under the guidance of Dr. W. Staines and Dr. A. Krantis.

 

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh
Clinical Call?: Not required, but available for moonlighting, wages as extra
Number of Years: 1 to 3
Program Director: R. Cartland Burns, MD
Website: http://www.chp.edu
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The Burns laboratory focuses on mechanisms of intestinal formation and atresia. Using elegant in vitro and in vivo models of gut formation, we are studying key molecular pathways such as FGF signaling in genetically altered and normal mice to determine how intestinal atresias occur. In utero interventions in mice allow for a novel and exciting method for studying these events. The laboratory environment is within a highly sophisticated GI and developmental biology group at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Our laboratory will be moving into a state of the art research facility in 2008.

 

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh
Clinical Call?: Not required, but available for moonlighting, wages as extra
Number of Years: 1 to 3
Program Director: Doug Potoka, MD
Website: http://www.chp.edu
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The Potoka laboratory is investigating the role of early blood vessel formation in the development of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a mouse model. Applying cutting edge technology available only at the University of Pittsburgh, we are dissecting out key early molecular events that lead to the malformation of blood vessels and early lung branches that determines the diaphragmatic hernia phenotype. The laboratory environment is within a highly sophisticated GI and developmental biology group at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Our laboratory will be moving into a state of the art research facility in 2008.

 

Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh
Clinical Call?: Not required, but available for moonlighting, wages as extra
Number of Years: 1 to 3
Program Director: Kelly Miller, MD
Website: http://www.chp.edu
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The Miller laboratory is studying the neonatal intestine in models of Hirschsprung's disease to determine why it has the unusual predisposition to Hirschsprung's enterocolitis, a devastating and lethal complication. We hypothesize that failure of non-neuronal cell migration may impact on intestinal barrier function and immunity, and thus plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung's enterocolitis. The laboratory environment is within a highly sophisticated GI and developmental biology group at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Our laboratory is working with several models in a very unique and publication-fertile field of research. Our laboratory will be moving into a state of the art research facility in 2008.

 

Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago
Clinical Call?: Once per week
Number of Years: 1 to 2
Program Director: Mary Beth Madonna, MD
Mechanism of Support: Institutional practice plan
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Ngf (Nerve growth factor) in neuroblastoma

 

Childrens of Los Angeles
Clinical Call?: 4-5x/month
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Perturbations in the host defense mechanisms that result in sustained upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the gut may lead to profound alterations in intestinal mucosal barrier function. Evidence suggests that peroxynitrite (ONOO-), a potent oxidant formed by the reaction of NO with superoxide, may be a key reactive nitrogen intermediate responsible for the cytopathic effects of NO in inflammatory conditions such as endotoxemia, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), or necrotizing enterocolitis. Our objective is to determine the mechanisms by which overproduction of NO or ONOO- may promote tissue injury (enterocyte apoptosis or necrosis) and inhibit tissue repair mechanisms (epithelial restitution via enterocyte migration and proliferation), thereby leading to gut barrier failure. We wish to investigate the mechanisms by which NO or ONOO- inhibits tissue repair mechanisms, epithelial restitution and proliferation. We will examine how ONOO- affects epithelial restitution by enterocyte migration, the critical phase that precedes the proliferative response to repair the mucosal injury. Clinical opportunities include conference attendance as well as call on the pediatric surgical service.

 

Childrens of Los Angeles
Clinical Call?: 4-5X/month
Program Director: Henri Ford
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
We will test the hypothesis that ONOO- can inhibit migration and proliferation by nitrating critical tyrosine residues of key members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases: Src; focal adhesion kinase (FAK); and P13K. We will attempt to modulate Rho, Src kinase, or mitochondrial signaling pathways with various cytoprotective agents to enhance intestinal barrier function in conditions associated with excessive NO/ONOO- production (endotoxemia, IBD) in vivo. Clinical opportunities include conference attendance as well as call on the pediatric surgical service.

 

Childrens of Los Angeles
Clinical Call?: 4-5X/month
Program Director: Kasper Wang
Mechanism of Support: NIH
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The focus of our research is on the signaling pathways regulating liver stem cell proliferation and differentiation. We have previously shown that Fibroblast Growth Factor 10 promotes hepatic progenitor cell survival and proliferation through beta catenin activation. We now are focusing on mechanisms affect cell fate. All our work is in mouse transgenic models and cell culture. Past reserach experience is preferrable but we have taken several research novices into the lab as well. Clinical opportunities include conference attendance as well as call on the pediatric surgical service.

 

Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian  

Clinical Call?: ECMO call
Program Director: Jessica Kandel, MD
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Research position (basic science), focusing on mechanisms of angiogenesis as it relates to tumor progression in Wilms tumor and neuroblastoma.

 

Nationwide Children's Hospital of Columbus
Clinical Call?: Once a week
Number of Years: 1 to 3
Program Director: Gail E. Besner, M.D. 
Website: http://www.childrenscolumbus.com
Mechanism of Support: NIH funding
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The Besner laboratory focuses on a growth factor known as heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF). Dr. Besner initially identified HB-EGF in 1990, and has spent the past decade studying the ability of HB-EGF to protect the intestines from injury. Studies are conducted at the molecular biology, cell biology and whole animal model levels. Animal models of necrotizing enterocolitis, ischemia/reperfusion injury and hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation have been used simultaneously to demonstrate the ability of HB-EGF to protect the intestines from injury. FDA approval has recently been obtained to begin Phase 1 clinical trials of HB-EGF. The long term goal of the research is the use of HB-EGF to protect premature babies from developing NEC. Thus, it is a very exciting time to be in the Besner lab.

 

Nationwide Children's Hospital of Columbus (continued)
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The Brigstock laboratory is investigating the biology of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a member of the CCN gene family. CTGF acts to promote fibroblast proliferation, migration, adhesion, and extracellular matrix formation, and its over-production is proposed to play a major role in pathways that lead to fibrosis, especially those that are TGF-beta-dependent. This includes fibrosis of major organs, fibro-proliferative diseases, and scarring. CTGF has thus emerged as a potential important effector molecule in pathological processes and has provided a new target for therapeutic intervention in fibrotic diseases. Specific areas of focus in Dr Brigstock's lab include NIH-funded studies of the role of CTGF in liver and pancreatic fibrosis.

 

Schneider Children’s Hosp
Clinical Call?: No
Program Director: Samuel Soffer, MD
Website: http://www.schneiderchildrenshospital.org
Mechanism of Support: Institutional and private grants
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Anti-VEGF antibody (trade name AVASTIN) is in current clinical use in the treatment of metastatic colon cancer as well as many other adult and pediatric metastatic cancers. However, we have shown in the lab that prolonged treatments with anti-VEGF antibody leads to aberrant blood vessel formation and tumor resistance. This has profound clinical implications & the current focus of our lab effort is to elucidate the precise nature of tumor resistance to antiangiogenic treatments & to discover new potential vascular targets & agents which will provide more durable tumor suppression with minimal toxicity.

 

Seattle Children's Hospital
Clinical Call?: Yes, Once each week. Every third weekend
Program Director: John Waldhausen MD
Website: http://www.seattlechildrens.org
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Research labs are directed by Dr Adam Goldin. Positions are available for two year time periods. Dr Goldin’s lab is focused on gastroesophageal reflux disease in infants and children. Dr. Potnick Javid has a research position available in short bowel physiology. These two year fellowships allows the fellow to participate in other clinical and research activities at SCH. Background projects utilizing existing databases would be performed in the first year with planning and enactment of prospective clinical research late in the first year and throughout the second year.

 

St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA

Clinical Call?: Yes—approximately every fifth-sixth night as the “fellow”.
Number of Years: 1 to 2
Program Director: Marshall Z. Schwartz, M.D
Website: http://www.stchristophershospital.com
Mechanism of Support: Institutional/ Foundation
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The laboratory focus has been on the use of growth factors to treat intestinal failure from short bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and ischemia-reperfusion injury. We currently use models of rat inflammatory bowel disease, short bowel syndrome and ischemia-reperfusion injury and have shown definitive benefit from certain growth factors in treating these serious causes of intestinal failure. There are on-going projects in all of these areas. Previous residents in the lab have been successful in presenting and publishing numerous papers

 

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Clinical Call?: No
Program Director: Andrew Davidoff
Website: http://www.stjude.org
Mechanism of Support: Institutional/other
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Basic research in tumor angiogenesis and anti-angiogenic cancer therapy using pediatric tumor models

 

St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine
Clinical Call?: Not required
Program Director: Brad W. Warner, M.D.
Website: http://www.stlouischildrens.org
Mechanism of Support: NIH, Institutional training grant, Divisional resources
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
This laboratory is focused on the intestinal adaptation response to massive small bowel resection. More specifically, we seek to elucidate the role of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling as a central mediator of resection-induced adaptation responses to include: enterocyte proliferation, enterocyte apoptosis, and enteric smooth muscle cell growth. Research fellows will learn advanced microsurgical techniques in mice, laser capture microdissection and confocal microscopy, and standard methods in molecular biology to include Western blotting, real-time PCR, recovery of RNA from tissue, etc. In addition, through weekly lab meetings, journal clubs, individual meeting with mentors, as well as daily interaction with PhD scientists in cell biology and genetics, research fellows will accrue skills in scientific writing, experimental design, data organization and interpretation, statistics, and oral presentation.

 

Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine
Clinical Call?: No
Program Director: Eugene S. Kim, MD
Website: http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org
Mechanism of Support: Institutional & Private Funding
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Our laboratory’s focus is on the study of tumor angiogenesis in neuroblastoma. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is critical to angiogenesis. Monoclonal antibody treatment targeting VEGF has been proven successful in a number of animal cancer models. However, our previous work has shown that anti-VEGF therapy to neuroblastoma only partially suppresses tumor growth. Since VEGF represents the final product of many tumorigenic pathways, we hypothesize that more effective restriction of neuroblastoma growth may require intervention earlier in the signaling cascade that regulates angiogenesis. One such treatment target is the MYCN-driven MDM2 gene in neuroblastoma. MDM2, which has been found to have a critical role in tumor suppression, has also been found to directly interact with hypoxic inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a), a major promoter of VEGF. Blocking MDM2 with the agent Nutlin-3a has been shown to decrease interaction with HIF-1a and subsequently decrease VEGF production in vitro. Our work focuses on the study of MDM2 inhibition and VEGF inhibition in an experimental xenograft model of neuroblastoma as well as a transgenic mouse model of spontaneously growing neuroblastoma. We hope to better understand the mechanism of VEGF blockade in neuroblastoma as well as explore the novel MDM2 inhibitor drugs in an in vivo model.

 

Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine
Clinical Call?: No
Program Director: Oluyinka O. Olutoye, M.D.
Website: http://www.texaschildrenshospital.org
Mechanism of Support: Institutional, NIH and Industry Funding
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Our laboratory is has a variety of interests related to wound healing and fetal therapy. We are exploring the mechanisms underlying the scarless dermal wound healing in the fetus with a specific focus on the role of adhesion molecules in fetal inflammation. Using transgenic mouse models, we are exploring the contributions of various molecules to the fetal healing response. In addition collaboration with industry has yielded the opportunity to explore the effects of a variety of agents on the wound healing response in general. A clinical component of our wound healing work is a prospective randomized trial of negative pressure wound therapy in children. With our close involvement with the Texas Children’s Fetal Center, our laboratory is also involved in the development of animal models of fetal anomalies and the design and perfection of in-utero fetal therapeutic techniques prior to clinical application. Fellows in our laboratory have the opportunity to engage in a wide array of basic science and clinical research projects. There are currently 7 IACUC-approved animal protocols and 12 IRB-approved clinical protocols to choose from. There is the opportunity to maintain surgical skills, performing large animal surgery (pigs and sheep) as well as micrisurgery (fetal mice). The opportunity for limited involvement with the fetal program is also available for interested individuals.

 

The Children's Hospital, Denver
Clinical Call?: Once a week
Program Director: Steven Moulton, MD
Secondary Contact: David Partrick, MD (partrick.david@tchden.org)
Mechanism of Support: Institution, SOM; NIH
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Application of informatics and software development to permit remote patient monitoring; assessment of developmental physiology of acute injury

 

The Children's Hospital, Denver
Clinical Call?: Yes q 4-5
Program Director: Steven Moulton, MD
Mechanism of Support: Gov. Agency/NASA
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Computation and mathematics and modeling of acute care physiology

 

UAB-Children's Hospital of Alabama
Clinical Call?: Yes q 4-5
Number of Years: 1 to 2
Program Director: Elizabeth Beierle
Mechanism of Support: Insitution NIH
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Basic Research: tumor biology

 

University of Arkansas, Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Clinical Call?: Yes, every 4th
Number of Years: 1 to 2
Program Director: Sam Smith
Website: http://www.archildrens.org
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Pediatric Robotic Surgery; Prevention of NEC with Probiotic diet; and Short Gut Adaptation

 

University of Chicago
Mechanism of Support: NIH
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Bacterial virulence expression in NEC/gut ischemia/reperfusion

 

University of Michigan
Clinical Call?: No
Number of Years: 1 or 2
Program Director: Ronald Hirschl, MD
Website: http://surgery.med.umich.edu/pediatric/index.shtml
Mechanism of Support: NIH/Training Grant
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
See research description on website. The laboratory is focused on research in critical care and support of organ failure, primarily lung failure. The projects which we are currently undertaking include the following: Liquid ventilation with perfluorocarbons, ECMO, artificial placenta, development of a chronic artificial lung, development of new surfaces for extracorporeal support, and extracorporeal support of organs for transplantation.

 

University of Michigan
Clinical Call?: not required
Program Director: Daniel Teitelbaum, MD
Website: http://sitemaker.umich.edu/teitelbaum/teitelbaum_laboratory_research
Mechanism of Support: NIH via T32 training grants
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Pediatric Surgery Research Laboratory: The Teitelbaum Laboratory has a position for a research resident. The preferred duration is 2 years, and consists of basic, translational and clinical research. The laboratory is NIH funded and concentrates on three key projects: 1. TPN model: Studying the loss and gain of intestinal mucosal barrier function with total parenteral nutrition administration. This investigation is examining basic mechanisms of action which lead to mucosal atrophy and epithelial leak during TPN administration. The project will allow the resident to get a strong understanding of basic science and GI physiology principals. 2. Enterogenesis: This project is concentrated on developing a novel device which mechanically lengthens the small intestine for the treatment of short bowel syndrome using a pig model. It offers the resident to combine surgical principals, medical device development and basic GI physiology. 3. Tissue Engineering: Our laboratory has recently been funded by an NIH Research Challenge grant in work to develop a bioartificial internal anal sphincter. The work utilizes tissue engineering of human constructs and studies the ability to surgically implant these constructs and maximize neuro- and vascular ingrowth.

 

University of Michigan (cont)
Clinical Call?: Not required
Number of Years: 1 to 2
Program Director: James D. Geiger, MD
Website: http://www.med.umich.edu/ummic
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The University of Michigan Medical Innovation Center's (MIC) Fellowship Program builds tomorrow's innovation leaders today! This summer the MIC responded to an RFA from the FDA to assemble a Pediatric Device Consortia to support the development of medical devices for pediatric patients. Our $2M award will support a one-year, full-time fellowship program, tasked with developing solutions for unmet clinical pediatric device needs. The MIC Fellowship is a multidisciplinary "team" training program for talented post-graduate professionals with medical, dental, doctorate, or master's degrees, who are committed to addressing real healthcare issues through innovation excellence. Innovation Fellows are expected to function as a cohesive team, blurring the boundaries of their respective disciplines. Teams will have medical (MD, DO), business (MBA),and engineering (Master of above) members who will collaborate in this unique program. This program draws on the strengths of Michigan's renowned schools and colleges to develop a new type of medical innovator with the knowledge and integrated, cross-disciplinary skills necessary to transform problems into practical solutions and discoveries into products. This intensive program provides practical training through experiential learning that allows innovation knowledge to be applied to the medical arena and beyond. Residents (procedure oriented specialties preferred) who have completed a minimum of two years of training, MBA's and master level engineers are eligible to apply.

 

University of Tennessee
Clinical Call?: Yes q4-5
Program Director: Martin Blakely, MD
Secondary Contact: Eunice Huang, MD
Website: http://www.lebonheur.org
Mechanism of Support: Insitutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
This fellowship is available to those interested in obtaining dedicated training in pediatric surgical clinical research. Fellows will gain hands on experience with local, regional, and national prospective clinical trials. Current areas of focus include surgical treatment of necrotizing enterocolitis; accurate diagnosis and surgical treatment of ruptured appendicitis; surgical treatment of Hirschsprung’s disease; application of novel biomedical informatics techniques to improve efficiency of clinical trials; surgical treatment of congenital diaphragmatic hernia; treatment of childhood liver tumors; trauma database research; and others. Coursework will be encouraged through the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Graduate Sciences. There are excellent courses in epidemiology, statistics, health outcomes, and others. Fellows may choose to complete the Certificate Program in Clinical Research during this fellowship. Much of this program is accomplished via online introductory graduate courses focused on effective and efficient conduct of clinical research.

 

University of Texas at Houston
Clinical Call?: not required
Program Director: KuoJen Tsao, MD
Website: http://utsurg.uth.tmc.edu/pedisurgery/
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The Center for Surgical Trials and Evidence-based Practice (C-STEP) at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHSC) is accepting applications for a 2-year clinical research fellowship beginning July 1, 2010. The program is established for surgical residents interested in a career in academic clinical research with a focus in pediatric surgery. Fellows will obtain a Master's Degree in a Clinical Research established by the Center for Evidenced-based Medicine and Clinical Research at UTHSC. The Master's program curriculum focuses on training clinical investigators in designing and conducting patient-oriented research of high quality. In addition to the educational foundation, fellows will work with established faculty mentors with advanced degrees in clinical research to develop expertise in the scientific research process. This would include identifying key problems in pediatric surgery, gathering and analyzing the current evidence and literature, and developing/implementing a clinical research study. In addition, fellows will work with mentors to learn the mechanisms of becoming a funded clinical researcher. Applicants should have completed the PGY-2 year of a ACGME-accredited general surgery residency program by the start of the fellowship. Pay and benefits will commensurate with NIH guidelines for PGY level.

 

University of Texas at Houston
Clinical Call?: not required
Program Director: Charles S. Cox, Jr., MD
Website: http://utsurg.uth.tmc.edu/pedisurgery/
Mechanism of Support: NIH, Institutional, Private Philanthropy
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Opportunity for research in a productive extra-murally funded translational research laboratory in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston to start July 1, 2010. The primary focus of the selected candidate's research will be to explore the role/mechanism of a variety of adult progenitor cells in traumatic brain injury, utilizing a rodent model. There is a significant translational component, with selected opportunities to participate in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Additionally, per the candidate's specific interests, there is an opportunity to participate in projects related to organ (specifically intestine) edema secondary to conventional (i.e., high volume) crystalloid resuscitation and abdominal compartment syndrome in small and large animal models.The ideal candidate will have completed the PGY-2 year in an approved general surgery residency program by the start of the research fellowship and will make a 2 year commitment. Pay and benefits are commensurate to PGY year and in accordance with NIH guidelines for post-doctoral fellows. A current curriculum vitae and a letter of recommendation from the candidate's current program director and chairman is required.

 

University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center
Program Director: Andrea Hayes-Jordan MD
Website: http://www.mdanderson.org/children
Mechanism of Support: Institutional/other
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Basic science/molecular biology and animal research on pulmonary metastasis in pediatric/adolescent sarcoma. Specifically, angiogenic mechanisms in pulmonary metastasis.

 

University of Washington and the Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center
Clinical Call?: no
Number of Years: 2 to 3
Program Director: Frederick Rivara, MD, MPH
Website: http://www.hiprc.org
Mechanism of Support: NIH, Institutional, Private Philanthropy
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
The Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center and the University of Washington are offering post-doctoral training in Pediatric Injury Research, with positions available annually, with the first in summer, 2010. The goal of this training program is to prepare investigators to specialize in pediatric injury research and to be productive academic scientists and scholars in this field. We define injury research broadly to include both intentional and unintentional injury mechanisms, and research on the risk factors and causes of injuries and prevention strategies, the acute and chronic care of injured patients, and the outcomes from trauma, including interventions to return the injured individual to their full potential and avoid future injury. The Program includes coursework, seminars and an intensively mentored research experience. We will provide our trainees with methodological knowledge and practical skills for conducting high quality interdisciplinary research in an environment that infuses them with the excitement of research, and nurtures their early career development. We believe that our graduates will become research leaders prepared to conduct interdisciplinary research using the highest ethical standards and capitalizing on state of the art research methods.

 

Yale University School of Medicine, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
Clinical Call?: Yes 4-6 nights per month on pediatric surgery
Number of Years: 1 to 2 (2 preferred)
Program Director: Larry Moss, MD
Website: http://www.yalesurgery.org/yccsr
Mechanism of Support: Institutional
Description of Lab's Research Interests/Projects:
Tailored to candidate’s needs and interests. Options for basic science tissue engineering, translational tissue engineering, clinical research involving database and clinical trial design and management, and minimally invasive surgery instrumentation and education.