Find a Department of Pediatrics Researcher

Clinical and laboratory research on mechanisms underlying lung development and pulmonary hypertension in newborns and children.

Viral infections and antiviral therapy in neonates and young children; enteroviruses

Program evaluation and prevention research primarily related to formal child welfare system (non-clinical, non-medical).

Pneumonia, biomarkers, antibiotic stewardship, lower respiratory tract infection, pediatrics

Management of difficult-to-treat and severe asthma, transition from pediatric to adult care, electronic medication monitoring

Genetic, cellular, and molecular mechanisms of neural development and myelination

Vaccines

Clinical research in rare inborn errors of metabolism Translational research using metabolomics to understand common diseases

Immunotherapy treatment for Pediatrics brain tumor.

Embryonic cells need to communicate with each other to orchestrate development of complex structures like the mammalian face. Ion channels regulate electrical activity that promotes neuronal communication. We study how ion channels contribute to embryonic cell to cell communication to make structures including the face, limbs, and organs. How ion channels contribute to development is important because ion channels are the targets of thousands of medications that people may take during pregnancy and could thus alter fetal development. Our basic science research has translational applications.

Clinical and translational approaches to neurodevelopmental disorders associated with early life seizures that include Rett Syndrome (and MECP2 related disorders), CDKL5 disorder, GRIN disorders and FOXG1 syndrome.

Predictive analytics, clinical decision support tools, EHR data, sepsis, traumatic brain injury, respiratory failure

Pediatric Kidney Transplantation

I am a child rights expert who is interested in multidisciplinary research focused on child health and well-being within a 21st context (tech-facilitated abuse, children in war, children in migration, climate change, etc.).

My research focus is on vasculitis in children, especially ANCA-associated vasculitis. I also work on a clinical trial for children with Down Syndrome.

Develop and test the timing, combination, and tailoring of interventions to prevent and treat pediatric obesity (behavioral, environmental, family-based, anti-obesity medications, and metabolic and bariatric surgery)

I'm passionate about engaging in practice-based and policy-focused research and implementation work that reduces the negative effects of poverty on the health and well-being of children and families. My current work focuses on programs and policies that provide income support to families, including through tax credits, cash transfers and clinic-based financial services.

- evaluating health disparities and neonatal outcomes, specifically as they relate to distance from home to hospital and non-urban residence. - actively involved in quality improvement collaboratives including the CHoSEN (Colorado Hospitals Substance Exposed Newborns), and DEFINE Colorado to improve parental engagement in the NICU and optimizing the transition from hospital to home - engaged in-unit quality improvement work as the associate medical director of the CHCO NICU

How intrauterine exposures increase the child's risk for obesity and diabetes into adulthood.

Origin, impact, and utility of genomic mosaicism; neurogenetics

Pulmonary topics: sleep, asthma, health outcomes of the trach and vent program, high altitude pulmonary edema, neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia, objective measures of lung function, and others. Nephrology topics: acute kidney injury, nephrotoxic exposures in the hospital, electrolyte derangements and others. Study design and analysis, power and sample size, longitudinal data analysis, dissemination and implementation research, observational study design.

Curriculum development, palliative care, simulation

My goal is to understand the basic biology of fetal muscle development and protein metabolism to optimize body composition and growth in infants born after exposure to pathological conditions in pregnancy, including fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Breastfeeding Support, Cannabinoids in breastmilk, Quality Improvement in Primary Care, Integregrated Behavioral Health

I study mechanisms of vertebrate development and human disease through creating animal models. I investigate the genetic and mechanistic causes of congenital diseases and cancer affecting mesodermal organ systems. I use the zebrafish (Danio rerio) as principal model, supplemented by work in axolotl, chicken and mouse to further strengthen the link to human physiology. In addition, I developed methods for disease modeling in zebrafish, including genome editing and transgenic approaches that we constantly improve. My research focuses on three approaches: 1) defining cis-regulatory elements of tissue-specific genes to identify their involvement in vertebrate development, in particular the notochord and intervertebral discs, as well as associated diseases, such as intervertebral disc disease, 2) using genome editing to generate disease-associated alleles to inform about future disease outcome and secondary effects, and 3) assessing the genotype-phenotype association of mutations involved in disease.

Standardizing suicide risk screening and implementing ED-based interventions to link children and adolescents with elevated risk to outpatient mental health services.

Diabetes screening, diabetes technology for CFRD, CFRD treatments and complications

Cardiomyocyte growth, maturation, and metabolism, specifically in growth-restricted fetuses with the goal of determining therapeutic avenues to boost heart growth and improve cardiac function before and after birth. Combining in vivo, in vitro, and omics technology to understand the molecular mechanisms behind normal and growth-restricted fetal cardiomyocyte development and metabolism.

My basic-translational research lab studies lipid metabolism by the placenta and fetus in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction, with a specific interest in how in utero lipid handling (particularly of DHA) affects neurodevelopmental outcomes in childhood.

Equity of Genetic Testing for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Antibiotic stewardship in pediatric pneumonia

Inborn errors of metabolism, pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy, glutaric aciduria type I, biomarkers, outcomes research

I conduct basic and transitional research on eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and other eosinophilic GI diseases. I mainly use mouse modeling to test new treatments in drug development pipelines to give our patients another option for treatment.

Research interests: impact of thyroid hormone dysregulation on metabolic health

Relationship of risk factors for adult cardiovascular disease as they appear in children and adolescents. Target organ effects of blood pressure elevation, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, cigarette smoking, and other risk factors. Factors related to the development of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Clinical outcomes of sex chromosome aneuploidy conditions

Asthma, medication adherence, health behavior change

Health equity research focused on improving health and healthcare for Latino children in immigrant families and populations whose healthcare communication is in languages other than English

The focus of my research is to elucidate the mechanisms by which platelets contribute to the initiation and progression of vascular inflammation in pulmonary hypertension. The goal of my work is to gain an understanding of the immune mechanisms that mediate platelet function, with the goal of targeting immune mediated platelet activation with novel immune modulating anti-platelet therapies to ultimately improve the outcome of newborns with pulmonary hypertension, neonatal lung injury, and inflammation.

Dempsey Lab has research interests in 3 main areas 1. Epigenetic regulation of cell identity and cellular plasticity in stem cell biology and regeneration in the gastrointestinal tract. 2. Role of Larp1 RNA BP in nutrient regulation of enterocyte function in vitro and in vivo. 3. Study of photo responsive hydrogels in regulating crypt formation and fission in intestinal organoids

Neurogenetics

Our lab studies the long-term consequences of global cerebral ischemia in the developing brain. Using unique models of cardiac arrest and resuscitation in neonatal and juvenile rodents, we examine mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, learning and memory and translation drug discovery with the hope of translational application to the children for which we care in the hospital.

Lung development

Diagnostic stewardship, pediatric respiratory viral infections, enteroviruses

Basic and translational pediatric neurooncology

The Dunn Lab explores intriguing and unexpected aspects of eosinophil biology with the goal of revolutionizing treatment of eosinophilic and allergic diseases. Research in the Dunn Lab explores: 1) how eosinophils specialize in different environments, 2) how specialized eosinophils interact with other cells in the environment, and 3) how pro-inflammatory eosinophils may be re-specialized to assist in tissue repair. Research in the Dunn Lab explores: 1) how eosinophils specialize in different environments, 2) how specialized eosinophils interact with other cells in the environment, and 3) how pro-inflammatory eosinophils may be re-specialized to assist in tissue repair.”

Development of Electron paramagnetic Resonance (EPR)Spectroscopy and Imaging Technology

Understanding the basic biology, lipid, carbohydrate, protein metabolism and disease during fetal development by using high tech analytical instruments and bioinformatics techniques.

brain development, rare diseases, neurogenetic therapies

Children with special healthcare needs; medication safety; pharmacoepidemiology

Ependymoma Neurofibromatosis MPST

Normal brain development, neurodevelopmental disorders, pediatric brain tumors, neural stem cells, cell fate specification, glial cell biology

Immune dysregulation; Mechanisms regulating tissue-specific immune responses

The Garcia lab studies the cellular mechanisms of pediatric heart disease progression with an emphasis on cell metabolism, inflammatory signaling, and lipid synthesis – we utilize both human patient samples as well as animal models to identify unique adaptations associated with pediatric heart failure.

My research focuses on elucidating cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in hypoxia-induced pulmonary vascular remodeling in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (PH). Employing cellular and animal models, we explore the impact of extracellular purine nucleotides, such as ATP and ADP, as well as adenosine, on the barrier function and angiogenic responses of pulmonary artery vasa vasorum endothelial cells (VVEC). Currently, our investigations focus on assessing the potential of short-chain fatty acid butyrate to mitigate hypoxia-induced pathological angiogenic responses and barrier dysfunction in VVEC. Our goal is to uncover the underlying signaling, metabolic, and epigenetic mechanisms involved in this process and explore the potential of butyrate as a nutraceutical for vascular stabilization therapy. Additionally, we examine how hypoxic stress and viral infections, such as those caused by SARS-CoV-2, impact the enzymatic activity of purine-converting enzyme ecto-NTDPase/CD39. Specifically, we seek to determine if the Spike 1 protein of SARS-CoV-2 can directly bind to and inhibit the catalytic activity of CD39. Understanding this interaction may suggest the role of purinergic signaling in mediating the vascular pathology in COVID-19.

My primary goal is to improve lifelong health by optimizing nutrition during infancy and early childhood. My current projects look at the effect of high fat diet after fetal growth restriction using a mouse model, the concentration of iron in infant formula in a clinical trial, and factors that predict or alter the impact of rapid weight gain during infancy. I also care deeply about how nutrition impacts other aspects of care including recovery from acute kidney injury, costs of medical care, and how climate change and nutrition intersect.

School-based Asthma Programs

Phase I drug development/early phase clinical trials. Focus on leukemias and high-risk-refractory disease.

Pediatric high-grade glioma, Pediatric cancer disparities

Currently, Dr. Gulley is a clinical research investigator on behavioral intervention trials to address youth depression and anxiety, lifestyle behaviors, and cardiometabolic disease, such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). She also provides psychology services within the Lifestyle Medicine Clinic, a multidisciplinary pediatric weight management program at Children’s Hospital Colorado for excess weight and medical comorbidities, including T2D and PCOS.

Behavioral interventions for childhood obesity, disparities in childhood obesity

Long time investigator with the CDC's Vaccine Safety Datalink, investigating the acceptance and safety of vaccines in the U.S.

Immune reconstitution and related clinical outcomes after hematopoeitic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy

Dr. Kathleen Hannan is a health services researcher with a particular interest in health disparities in the population of neonates with medical complexity and technology dependence. She follows infants discharged from our NICUs in the Special Care Clinic and is currently involved in population-level analyses and local and regional prospective studies investigating healthcare utilization and the experience of families of complex neonates.

Pediatric Cancer, health care delivery

Pediatric sarcomas, liquid biopsies

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antibiotics in children

Management of IgE-mediated food allergy including alternative treatment options for milk and egg allergy.

Dr. Higgins' research focuses on improving the health of children, adolescents, and their communities by strengthening vaccine delivery, communication, and confidence.

Child maltreatment; systems interventions; child welfare system reform; child welfare policies; differential response; family group decision making; youth transitioning from foster care; child welfare workforce perspectives, issues, and interventions.

Effects of exogenous testosterone and estrogen on neurodevelopment of headache in adolescence.

Pediatric lupus, inborn errors of immunity, arthritis, vaccine immune response, cellular therapies, renal immune disease

I participate in clinical research related to transport medicine, clinical ethics, and medical education (especially as it relates to transport and ethics). I'm also a research ethics team member.

Advanced neuromonitoring and outcome prediction after pediatric traumatic brain injury

Down Syndrome; Children and Adults with Medical Complexity; Employee Wellbeing

Development of children's eating behavior and weight outcome

Prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes in youth; sex differences in this area

Dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices for children's mental health

My research is focused on linking biomechanics and molecular phenomena in pulmonary vascular disease.

Transcription factors and enhancers related to hindbrain development

Organization of pediatric cardiac critical care. Improving best practices.

Dravet syndrome, infantile spasms

Our lab studies T cell biology related to their use in immunotherapy for cancer. We are especially focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells; understanding the mechanisms underlying their success and failures in patients and using this understanding to rationally design new CAR molecules to overcome current obstacles to CAR T cell therapies.

Pediatric emergency airway management, high-risk E. coli infections

Maternal and infant Nutrition- Micronutrient requirements through stable isotope studies (viz., zinc, iron, calcium) across the life cycle; large scale RCT of nutrition supplements and/or food-based interventions, in high and low resource settings. The broad focus of these studies is to improve health outcomes (pregnancy, lactation, growth, neurodevelopment) and to characterize adaptation to different diets and physiologic states across the life span and in various disease and inflammatory states. Global Health: interventions (nutrition and other) to improve health outcomes over the 1000 days.

Evaluation of Project SUCCEED (Supporting Colorado Children's Early Emotional Development). SUCCEED is a Mental Health Awareness Training grant (funded by SAMHSA) that is intended to help increase our state's capacity to address the unmet mental health needs of Colorado's children. Trainings are offered to a diverse group of individuals-professionals and nonprofessionals alike-who touch the lives of young children. This training includes, but is not limited to, (1) appreciating the foundational importance of mental health to children's overall development and well-being, (2) recognizing mental health challenges experienced by young children who are typically developing or have developmental disabilities, (3) learning effective ways to respond to tantrums, meltdowns, or other challenging or aggressive behaviors, (4) understanding when a referral to a mental health professional may be warranted, and (5) knowing how to connect with referral resources in the state.

Exploring the Complexities of Pulmonary Hypertension: Understanding How Fibroblast-Macrophage Interactions and Extracellular Vesicle-Mediated Communication Drive Inflammation, Metabolic Shifts, and Vascular Remodeli. This perspective delves into the intricate interplay among fibroblasts, macrophages, and other immune cells, focusing on their communication through soluble or small extracellular vesicles. It elucidates how these interactions shape the vascular landscape in pulmonary hypertension, contributing to inflammation, metabolic alterations, and vascular remodeling.

Asthma and pictograms, comparing dka protocol adults versus pediatrics( teenagers), med education

Ultrasound

Pulmonary macrophage phenotypes and their roles in extracellular matrix remodeling, vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension

I have a broad background in medical science, with specific training and expertise in cardiovascular physiology, molecular biology, and animal models of different vascular diseases. I am interested in determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to structural remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature and to right heart dysfunction in the setting of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Current Research Projects: 1. The phenotype and metabolic reprogramming of pulmonary vascular cells (adventitial fibroblasts and macrophages) obtained from hypoxic-induce experimental PH calve and rodent models and from IPAH human patients. 2. Crosstalk of fibroblasts and immune cells (macrophages). 3. Identify disease specific chromatin and epigenetic signatures (histone acetylation/ methylation patterns, histone variance, chromatin accessibility, DNA methylation, and transcriptome profiles) in isolated pulmonary vascular cells. 4. The role of mitochondrial deacetylase, SIRT3, in regulating pulmonary vascular cell phenotype, skeletal muscle function, and exercise endurance in PH. 5. The role of perivascular adipose tissue-derived complement in regulating large pulmonary artery inflammation and remodeling in obesity-associated PH.

Molecular Biological Diagnosis of Viruses

Making the care and evaluation of children and families with concern for abuse more effective, safe, and fair

Multicentric carpotarsal osteolysis (MCTO), MAFB gene

Outcomes after pediatric critical illness with a specific focus on physical functioning outcomes in children with invasive ventilation

Urea cycle disorders, fatty acid oxidation disorders, Prader-Willi syndrome, monogenic obesity, novel approaches to diagnosis of genetic disorders, therapeutics for genetic and metabolic disorders

Manager of the Organoid and Tissue Modeling Core. 3D in vitro models, pluripotent stem cells, CRISPR/Cas9, adult stem cells, organoids

Currently co-investigating with Dr. Jenna Demedis

Diagnostic Stewardship; Molecular Diagnostics; Metagenomic Next-Generation; Sequencing; Pandemic Preparedness; Emerging Infectious Diseases; Central Nervous; System Infections; Meningitis; Encephalitis; Acute Flaccid Myelitis; Picornaviruses;; Enteroviruses; Enterovirus D68; Enterovirus A71; Parechoviruses; Immunologic Surveillance; Monoclonal Antibodies; Vaccine Candidate Development

Our research focuses on the immunology of autoimmune diseases, with a particular focus on type 1 diabetes. Basic and translational research studies center on understanding how specific human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles confer diabetes risk and protection.

Biostatistics for a variety of clinical research applications.

Personalized pediatric obesity diagnosis and treatment

Cell fate mechanisms of cardiovascular development and other mesodermal lineages.

Development of therapies for treatment resistant central nervous system tumors.

Prevention and treatment of complications from youth-onset diabetes and obesity

Mechanisms underlying heart failure in children with single ventricle congenital heart disease; biomarkers of immunosuppression in pediatric heart transplant recipients

My focus is on understanding the mechanisms of CF liver disease, prediction of advanced liver disease focused on imaging and laboratory studies and proteomics.

My research focuses on the use of clinical and translational methods to improve the quality of emergency care for pediatric asthma. Specifically, I am interested in examining the role of novel biologic and physiologic markers in characterizing and predicting emergency department treatment response to optimize treatment strategies and improve clinical outcomes for children with acute asthma exacerbations.

Pandemic preparedness, enterovirus D68, emerging infectious diseases

Outcomes for individuals who have a difference of sex development (DSD)/intersex traits or who identify as transgender/gender diverse

Dysregulated redox signaling in pulmonary vascular diseases

Late effects post BMT and CT

My research focuses on novel approaches to emerging infectious diseases (EID) surveillance, including field-based molecular diagnostics, measuring the clinical and socioeconomic impact of EIDs in resource-limited populations, as well as the immunologic response, and assessing the benefit of community-based interventions such as vaccines. I am the Research Director at the CU-associated Center for Human Development in Southwest Guatemala, and I have cohort studies with a number of collaborators from CU, Colorado State University, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and elsewhere. Always looking for collaborators!

Outcomes for children involved with child welfare; perinatal substance use and care; program evaluation; quantitative methods development

I am a Denver Health faculty member but I partner with Susan Hwang, Christina Fisher, Stephanie Bourque, and Mariana Nino De Guzman Ramirez. We are currently looking at optimizing communication with families of patients in the neonatal intensive care unit. I have a particular interest in decreasing language barriers with Spanish-speaking patients.

Antibiotic Stewardship, Antibiotic use, deimplementation, laboratory stewardship

Clinical Trials for pediatric neuromuscular disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, etc.

Early detection of type 1 diabetes across the lifespan; brain and cognitive outcomes in type 1 diabetes.

Pediatric, youth and young adult HIV. Pregnancy and HIV.

Socio-behavioral drivers of antibiotic overuse in children in outpatient settings.

Determining the molecular mechanisms regulating nutrient transport in the human placenta and characterizing changes in placental function associated with important pregnancy complications. Dr Powell’s primary research focus is to better understand how the abnormal maternal metabolic environment of obesity and/or gestational diabetes affects placental function and the long-term health of her baby. Specifically, she is interested in identifying endocrine signals linking maternal adipose tissue and circulating lipids to placental function and fetal growth and developing novel intervention paradigms for improving the maternal metabolic environment and pregnancy outcomes.

Biostatistics, epidemiology, mult-omics. Application areas: diabetes, metabolism, chronic kidney disease

We are interested in the regulatory networks controlling adult uterine remodeling, regeneration, and homeostasis

Research in the Rozance laboratory uses animal models (sheep and mice) to focus on the regulation of fetal growth, fetal endocrinology, pancreatic beta-cell biology, fetal nutrient and oxygen metabolism, and placental biology. Projects include defining a novel role for fetal glucagon signaling in the placenta to coordinate fetal metabolism with placental function and the role of placental lactogen in this process. These studies derive from our current goal of understanding the role of “fetal-derived” signals in regulating placental function, placental lactogen secretion, and maternal metabolism during complications of pregnancy, thus challenging the current dogma of the fetus as a passive participant in the regulation of its own growth. Other projects aim to develop a better understanding how the fetus translates nutrient and hormonal signals from the placental into anabolic signals for fetal growth with particular attention to the fetal anabolic growth factor, insulin. His focus is on placental insufficiency, IUGR and the response of the pancreatic islet and beta-cell to antenatal injury paradigms. His translational studies revolve around the broad area of perinatal insulin-nutrient metabolism and led to his clinical research interests in glucose metabolism and neonatal hypoglycemia during the transition from intrauterine to extrauterine life.

Toxicology with a special emphasis on acetaminophen

Genetics, epigenetics, and RNA biology in sex determination, genitourinary development, genitourinary birth defects, and fertility

Genetic studies in patients and families with congenital defects of cognition and/or physical development

My research interests include airway inflammation and infection and biomarkers of lung disease in children with CF and PCD.

Transcriptional and epigenetic control of neural progenitor specification in the embryonic CNS

The role of the gut-brain axis in regulation of body weight and metabolism

We are interested in how (and why) adult neurogenesis is regulated within the mammalian nervous system. A recent focus of our studies is the olfactory sensory epithelium, in which we have found that, in mice, the neurogenesis rates of a fraction of the hundreds of sensory neuron subtypes can be selectively accelerated following exposure to specific odors.These studies are anticipated to elucidate fundamental aspects about how the olfactory system develops, adapts, and frequently loses function with age and disease.

Pediatric sickle cell disease - identification and support for neurodevelopmental disorders; improving health care outcomes using implementation science

Diverse Healthcare Career Pipelines Community Colleges as a source of recruitment of health care professionals/genetic counselors Paired Tumor/Germline Genetic Testing Outcomes Polyposis Syndromes Paraganglioma predisposition Cancer predisposition syndromes Etc...

Diagnosis, resuscitation, and systems of emergency care in pediatric sepsis

Pediatric musculoskeletal infections, infectious diseases diagnostics

Rare Disease Genetics, Genomics and Functional Studies

The main focus of our research lies in deciphering the effects of maternal obesity and environmental influences on fetal and infant development. Our studies heavily employ animal models to study intrauterine development including placental function and offspring metabolism. We also collaborate with many groups leveraging longitudinal maternal-child clinical cohorts. We make use of a number of -omic methods to delve into mechanisms. Our core competencies include studying transcriptomes, epigenomes and microbiomes using sequencing-based methods in many contexts. https://shankarlab.org

Brain and cognitive health across the lifecourse in people with obesity or diabetes.

Clinical trials for ASO and other precision medications to treat childhood neurologic disorders

Development and function of the meninges and neurovasculature

Engage in a variety of clinical research projects: (1) focusing on the impact of integration of palliative medicine, (2) exploring how dignity is upheld or uplifted in pediatrics, and (3) best practices related to legacy-oriented care. Also engage in health equity research, specific to end of life and palliative medicine, as well as more broadly within the hospital system.

Respiratory viral infections short and long term effects, prevention and treatment, epidemiology

Viral infections, especially HIV, perinatal exposure to/infection with HIV, immunology of HIV-exposed infants, vaccine responses, immune responses to respiratory viruses

Cardiovascular complications of type 1 diabetes

Pathogenesis, target identification and clinical outcomes in childhood cholestatic liver disease models in mice and in children, including biliary atresia, parenteral nutrition associated liver disease (intestinal failure associated liver disease), fatty liver disease, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.

Mucosal tissue eosinophils in health, allergy, and IBD; allergic diseases along the skin-gut-lung axis; eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases

Extracellular matrix, fibroblast biology, environmental toxicology, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary fibrosis, lung regeneration

My laboratory is interested in determining the cellular and molecular mechanisms that contribute to structural remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature and to right heart dysfunction in the setting of pulmonary hypertension (PH).  

Acute Kidney Injury, Complement Biology

Improving health systems for children and youth with special healthcare needs/disabilities/chronic conditions

Dr. Stremming's research interests are fetal and neonatal metabolism, growth, and nutrition. She is currently studying the hormonal regulation of growth and placental nutrient transport in the normally growing fetus and the fetus with growth restriction. She is also interested in optimizing growth in the NICU using targeted human milk fortification.

Implementation of evidence-based interventions in clinical and community settings

Redox regulation of innate immune response in pathogenesis of acute lung injury from infectious causes.

Treatment of inborn errors of metabolism including nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH)

My major interest is childhood asthma that includes a school-based asthma program addressing health disparities funded by the Colorado Department of Public Health and NHLBI. This is a statewide program that includes assessment and management of social determinants of health. This is outreach and dissemination and implementation research.

Pediatric Nutrition, infant development, gut microbiome, diet, overweight and obesity prevention.

Neutrodevelopmental Disorders and Medical Features in Sex Chromosome Aneuploidy (XXY, XYY, Trisomy X, XXYY, etc); Fragile X syndrome natural history and clinical trials, Cannabidiol treatment and endocannabinoids in autism

Preventive intervention research with youth who have experienced extreme adversity, including maltreated youth with child welfare involvement

Overuse of diagnostic testing, learning health systems, high-value care

PKU, galactosemia, HCU, OTC, and LSDs.

Intersection of behavioral health and physical health in rare pediatric genetic conditions.

Applied statistics in clinical research

I study renal outcomes of premature and sick newborns, as well as the impact of social determinants of health screening and referral in the neonatal ICU.

Inherited metabolic diseases, primary mitochondrial diseases, glycine, one carbon metabolism, new treatments

The Verneris lab focuses on the following topics: 1) Redirecting the immune system to cancer by studying CAR T cells and CAR NK cells 2) Investigating the immunological barriers to hematopoietic cell engraftment 3) Immune dysfunction in Down syndrome 4) Use of adoptive cellular therapy for inflammatory bowel disease

Epimetabolic regulation of inflammation in acute lung injury

Recreational drugs, toxicology

Impact of nutrients and hormones on fetal growth and pancreas development; currently investigating fetal pancreatic nutrient-stimulated β-cell NFκB signaling as a novel pathway linking early metabolic dysfunction in fetal growth restriction to type 2 diabetes later in life

Transcriptional regulation of lymphocyte development and function, Pathogenesis of pediatric autoimmunity

Pulmonary Hypertension, Lung Injury

My personal research interests are focused on survey methodology, and measurement. I have applied my knowledge in these areas to many content areas through the development and measurement of patient-reported outcomes, and the validation of measurement tools.