University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics

Dear Faculty and Friends,

Welcome to the March edition of the Department of Pediatrics Newsletter. Here you will find a sampling of all the amazing activity happening within the Department of Pediatrics and at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Thanks to all our talented faculty, trainees, and staff who make this the best Pediatrics Department in the country!

Department No. 1 (Again!) in NIH Research Funding

The Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research has released the ranking tables of National Institutes of Health funding to US Medical Schools for federal fiscal year 2018 (October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2018). Once again, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus was ranked No. 1 in NIH funding among Pediatrics Departments.

Our Department totaled $53.74 million in NIH funding, marking the first time that our NIH research portfolio exceed $50 million. Our Department’s funding is well ahead of the second and third ranked Departments at Duke ($39.5M) and Vanderbilt ($35.9M), respectively. Twenty-six of our faculty investigators have NIH funding of over $500,000 and 10 have funding that exceeds $1 million.

Over the past three years, our NIH funding has increased by $6.4 million. This is remarkable performance by our faculty for some of the most highly competitive federal awards; the success rate for NIH project grants (R01), for example, is less than 18 percent.

This outstanding performance reflects the tremendous breadth and depth of our research portfolio, and the results of the passionate work of all our faculty investigators and their research teams. This level of productivity is also made possible by the significant, ongoing investment in research by our Department and Sections, the School of Medicine, and Children’s Hospital Colorado.

Congratulations to all our research programs who continue to make discoveries that will improve the health of children in Colorado and beyond.

Tartaglia Secures Colorado Medical Marijuana Research Funding

Nicole Tartaglia, MD (Associate Professor, Section of Developmental Pediatrics) has been awarded a $1.35 million grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for a three-year study on the effects of cannabidiol, or CBD, on children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 

ASD is a relatively common neurodevelopmental disorder manifested by social communication deficits and restricted and repetitive interests. Individuals with ASD frequently have behavioral issues that can be difficult to manage and cause significant adaptive impairment. At present, there are only two approved medications (aripiprazole and risperidone) for the treatment of irritability in ASD. Both medications have the potential for significant long-term side effects, including weight gain and uncontrolled movements.

Anecdotal and some preliminary studies suggest that CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid in the marijuana plant, may lead to improvements in symptoms of ASD, including irritability, aggressive behaviors, and anxiety.

Dr. Tartaglia’s research proposes to evaluate the safety and efficacy of CBD in youth ages 5 to 17 with ASD with high irritability and aggression. The funding of the study from the state’s Medical Marijuana Research Grant Program has been recently highlighted in bothThe Gazette and The Denver Post.

Congratulations to Dr. Tartaglia and her ASD research team!

APS Names Abman President-Elect

Congratulations to Steven Abman, MD (Professor, Section of Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine) on his election to the leadership of the American Pediatric Society.

Effective in May, Dr. Abman becomes president-elect, followed by a one-year term as president.

Founded in 1888, the American Pediatric Society is the oldest academic pediatric organization in North America.

Dr. Abman is Director of the Pediatric Heart Lung Center at Children’s Hospital Colorado and directs the Section of Pediatric Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine’s NIH-funded T32 fellowship training program. Dr. Abman is well deserving of this national recognition of his status as a pediatric thought leader.
 

Stenmark Elected to AAP

Kurt Stenmark, MD (Professor and Head, Section of Critical Care Medicine) has been awarded membership into the Association of American Physicians (AAP).

AAP is an honorific, elected society of America’s leading physician-scientists who exemplify the pinnacle of pioneering and enduring, impactful contributions to improve health.

Dr. Stenmark has made seminal contributions to the field of lung vascular and cardiac dysfunction, and has served as a mentor and role model for early career physician-scientists.

Congratulations, Dr. Stenmark!

Faculty Interest Group Update

The PhD and Junior Faculty Interest Groups Present: “Congratulations, You Have A Grant—Now What?”  This event will be held on March 14 from noon-1:30 p.m. and will include information on the Scientific Advisory & Review Committee (SARC) Review Process, Team Management, and Compliance. RSVPs are required as lunch will be served. Location: TBD. Please RSVP to Rhonda Buckner at rhonda.buckner@childrenscolorado.org.

The PhD Faculty Interest Group (PhDIG) will host a Town Hall Event with Department Chair Stephen Daniels; Michael Jonen, Director, Finance and Administration; and Jeanette Leeser, Grants Program Director.  This event will be held on March 26 from noon-1 p.m. in Mt. Yale.  Lunch will be provided.

SAVE THE DATE: The Junior Faculty Interest Group (JFIG) will host a Wellness Event on May 14, which will include wellness information and tips, plus breakout groups for Mindfulness and Art Therapy.

The Annual Instructor/Senior Instructor Workshop & Reception will be held on June 13 from noon-1 p.m. in the Dori Biester Conference Room.

As always, for these and other exciting Department of Pediatrics news stories, please visit our Pediatrics News web page. 

Sincerely,

Stephen R. Daniels, MD, PhD
Professor and Chair
Department of Pediatrics | University of Colorado School of Medicine
Pediatrician-in-Chief | Children’s Hospital Colorado