Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute announces the recipients of the spring 2024 internal funding opportunities. Manne Research Institute provides internal grant and award opportunities to a faculty member or other person who has principal investigator-eligible status to develop projects that will lead to a highly competitive extramural application for sustained research support within 18 months of receiving the award. Funding opportunities are available bi-annually, in the spring and fall, and may vary depending on the year and cycle. Pediatric research at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute.
Eric Cheon, MD
Attending Physician, Anesthesiology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Associate Professor of Anesthesiology (Pediatric Anesthesiology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Award type: Device and Informatics Springboard Award
Amount funded: $25,000
Title: A Dually Deployed Wireless, Wearable Monitor System for the Detection of Intraoperative Airway Obstruction in Children Undergoing Tonsillectomies
Project summary: Dr. Cheon’s pilot study will investigate the feasibility of a dually deployed wireless monitoring platform for the intraoperative airway monitoring of children undergoing tonsillectomies, paving the way for other novel applications of the system and ultimately enhancing the standard of perioperative and diagnostic care. Moreover, data acquired from the study will enable the development of an algorithm aimed at enhancing the system’s ability to detect perioperative airway obstructions in children. Upon completion of the pilot study, Dr. Cheon plans to apply for National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation grants to support further research.
Sean DeLacey, MD
Attending Physician, Endocrinology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Award type: Endocrine Pilot Project Grant—Preparatory Award
Amount funded: $4,985
Title: Post-Transition Type 2 Diabetes Experience and Outcomes
Project summary: Current research focuses on the experiences of patients with type 1 diabetes transitioning to adult care, but little is known about the experiences of those with youth-onset type 2 diabetes. For her project, Dr. DeLacey will adapt a survey created for type 1 diabetes transition to the type 2 diabetes population through cognitive interviews of patients. The survey collects information on current health systems utilization/clinical status, transition experience, and perceptions of barriers/facilitators to transition. Through survey adaption, Dr. DeLacey will create a tool that can be used more broadly to understand the transition to adult care for those with type 2 diabetes. Ultimately, understanding the patient experience will help in the future design of interventions suited to this population.
Bonnie Essner, PhD
Pediatric Psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Child Psychology) and Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Award type: Pritzker Pilot Research Award
Amount funded: $40,000
Title: Multi-Method Assessment of Interoceptive Abilities, Mindfulness, and Health Outcomes Among Adolescents with Abdominal Pain-Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction (AP-DGBIs)
Project summary: Dr. Essner’s research will examine how interoceptive abilities—the mental processes in which the nervous system senses, interprets, and integrates signals from within the body—and mindfulness are related to physical symptoms in adolescents with abdominal pain-disorders of gut-brain interaction and adolescents with no chronic conditions. Her work will also assess the feasibility of ecological momentary assessment for collecting information on interoception, mindfulness, and physical symptoms in adolescents with abdominal pain-disorders of gut-brain interaction. The ultimate goal of her work is to develop and disseminate effective mind and body interventions that prevent abdominal pain-disorders of gut-brain interaction, alleviate symptoms, and enhance the wellbeing of youth affected by these conditions.
Ariela Kaiser, PhD
Post-Doctoral Associate, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Award type: Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Research Pilot Award—Trainee Pilot Research Award
Amount funded: $5,000
Title: Enhancing Caregiver Preparedness for Family-Based Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa: A Pilot Study of the Empower-ED Single-Session Intervention
Project summary: Dr. Kaiser will explore the feasibility and initial effectiveness of Project Empower–Eating Disorders, a single-session, web-based intervention designed for parents and caregivers of youth with anorexia nervosa. This adjunctive intervention provides caregivers with psychoeducation on eating disorders and treatment, helps them identify avoidance patterns, normalizes their distress responses, and supports the development of personalized distress tolerance action plans. The single-session intervention will be offered to caregivers during their child’s admission to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for medical stabilization before transitioning to outpatient family-based treatment. The primary aim is to improve caregivers’ distress tolerance during meals, reduce accommodation behaviors, and enhance overall treatment access and outcomes.
Xiao-Nan Li, MD, PhD
Rachelle and Mark Gordon Professor of Cancer Research, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Professor, Pediatrics (Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Award type: Proposal Revision Award
Amount funded: $100,000
Title: Mechanistic Outcomes of Selective Targeting of ZFTA::RLA Fusion Gene in Pediatric Ependymomas
Project summary: Dr. Li previously completed the design of Cas9 sgRNA and Cas13 crRNAs and established five PDOX models with confirmed ZFTA::RELA fusion gene. The Proposal Revision Award will help support Dr. Li’s work to generate in vitro data to demonstrate that his strategy of CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas13 targeting ZFTA::RELA fusion gene is effective.
Hannah McDowell
Graduate Student, Driskill Graduate Program in Life Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Award type: Mary J.C. Hendrix Outstanding Graduate Student Award
Amount funded: $5,000
Mentor: Monica M. Laronda, PhD, Director of Basic and Translational Research, Fertility and Hormone Preservation and Restoration Program, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Title: Elucidating the Mechanism by which Elastin Microfibril Interface-located Protein 1 (EMILIN 1) Contributes to Folliculogenesis
Project summary: One of the goals within the reproductive space is to develop a bioprosthetic ovary that would enable restoration of fertility and hormone function for a diverse group of individuals. Currently, biologically inert materials used in vitro are incapable of supporting follicle survival if transplanted in humans as these materials do not support vessel infiltration and are not easily remodeled by ovarian cells limiting key biological signaling, oxygenation, and hormonal exchange. The Laronda Laboratory team knows that decellularized extracellular matrix materials can support follicle growth and support vascular endothelial cells in vitro. The team hypothesizes that specific ovarian matrisome proteins’ presence and abundance in the ovary may contribute to the regulation of folliculogenesis. As such, McDowell’s work focuses on elucidating the mechanism by which elastin microfibril interface-located protein 1 (EMILIN1) contributes to folliculogenesis. Ultimately, what is discovered through McDowell’s work will expand the understanding of extracellular matrix protein’s contribution to folliculogenesis and will advance development of a future bioprosthetic ovary to expand fertility and hormone restoration options for more individuals.
Jillian Merrick, PhD
Breakthrough T1D Diabetes Psychology Fellow, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
Award type: Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Research Pilot Award—Trainee Pilot Research Award
Amount funded: $5,000
Title: Risk and Protective Factors for Optimal Health Outcomes in Children with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and their Caregivers
Project summary: Despite extensive research on the consequences of distress among parents of children with type 1 diabetes, little research has examined the mechanisms driving these associations. Research that examines why some parents experience distress while others do not is key to promoting better outcomes. Dr. Merrick’s research seeks to understand these mechanisms by examining parents’ own childhood and current experiences parenting a child with type 1 diabetes among multiple caregivers in the family unit. This study will also examine whether and how caregivers’ own experiences influence their children’s diabetes-specific psychosocial and metabolic outcomes and whether these associations differ across multiple caregivers in the same family.
Divakar S. Mithal, MD, PhD
Attending Physician, Neurology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Founders’ Board Chair in Neurocritical Care, Lurie Children’s; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Neurology and Epilepsy), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Award type: Kenneth C. Griffin Research Catalyst Award
Amount funded: $100,000
Title: Restoring Metabolism in Patient-Derived Stem Cells to Treat Mitochondrial Disease
Project summary: Mitochondria use the electron transport chain to both generate ATP and sustain the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. In a crucial step for the TCA cycle, mitochondrial complex I converts nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to the reduced form NAD+. In a mouse model of mitochondrial disease, Dr. Mithal has shown that restoration of mitochondrial NAD+ regeneration increases survival, and his preliminary data shows the same manipulation in inhibitory neurons also improves survival. The central hypothesis is that targeting metabolism is a viable therapeutic approach in different forms of primary mitochondrial diseases caused by mitochondrial complex I. Dr. Mithal’s research will test whether the same metabolic pathway can be targeted in mitochondrial complex I disease caused by either mt-DNA or nuclear DNA variants with the aim to determine if a mitochondrial metabolic pathway is a viable therapeutic target, and whether hypothetical therapies for primary mitochondrial diseases can show efficacy in a patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell.
Elizabeth Moroney, PhD, and Laurie Thompson, PhD
Moroney: Pediatric Psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Child Psychology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Thompson: Pediatric Psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Child Psychology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Award type: Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Research Pilot Award—Early Career Faculty Pilot Research Award
Amount funded: $20,000
Mentor: John Lavigne, PhD, Chief Psychologist and Medical Psychologist, The Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Associate Director, Child Psychiatry Research, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute; Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Child Psychology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Title: Translating Emerging Diagnostic Criteria into a Valid and Acceptable Clinical Tool for the Diagnosis of Functional Tic-Like Behaviors in Youth
Project summary: In recent years, clinicians around the globe have observed a dramatic increase in patients presenting with tic-like symptoms that are distinct from traditional neurodevelopmental tics (e.g., Tourette’s). This has led to clinicians classifying the new tic-like symptoms as a subtype of functional neurological disorder and referring to them as functional tic-like behaviors. While there is proposed diagnostic criteria for functional tic-like behaviors, there has been no empirical evaluation of the criteria to determine whether they can be used to reliably guide diagnosis. As co-principal investigators, Drs. Moroney and Thompson will conduct a pilot project to critically evaluate the reliability and validity of the proposed diagnostic criteria for functional tic-like behaviors via a retrospective chart review and small prospective sample. Using the data collected from this study, they will seek funding to conduct a larger study of prospective implementation of the provider tool and the creation of a patient-oriented tool.
L. Nelson Sanchez-Pinto, MD, MBI, FAMIA
Attending Physician, Critical Care, Ann & Robert Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Warren and Eloise Batts Research Scholar, Lurie Children’s; Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Critical Care) and Preventive Medicine (Health and Biomedical Informatics), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Award type: Interdisciplinary Colloquia Award
Amount funded: $5,000
Title: Delivering Human-centered AI for Patient Safety: The Role of AI, Implementation Science, and Human-centered Design in Improving Patient Safety
Project summary: The Interdisciplinary Colloquia Award will support Dr. Sanchez-Pinto’s work organizing a one-day symposium to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, implementation science, human-centered design, and patient safety. The event is intended to foster greater collaboration among experts from Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern University, and other institutions in the Chicago area, and lay the groundwork for future research collaboration and grant proposals. The symposium will also serve as a precursor to an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality R01 proposal focused on the development and implementation of an AI-based prediction model of clinical deterioration in hospitalized children. Dr. Sanchez-Pinto would like to recognize Rebecca J. Stephen, MD, Medical Director of the Center for Quality and Safety, Lurie Children’s, who helped write the proposal for the Interdisciplinary Colloquia Award. She is co-principal investigator on the study and co-organizer of the symposium.
Abigail Schwaede, MD
Attending Physician, Neurology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Assistant Professor of Pediatrics (Neurology and Epilepsy), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Award type: Interdisciplinary Colloquia Award
Amount funded: $4,600
Title: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Improving Diagnostic Accuracy for Charcot-Marie Tooth in Patients Presenting with Pes Cavus Foot Deformity
Project summary: Pes cavus foot deformity is an orthopedic condition characterized by an abnormal elevation of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot and is often a symptom of an underlying neurological disorder such as inherited neuropathies, congenital anomalies, and spinal or nerve pathology. The most common inherited neuropathy is Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Dr. Schwaede will leverage the collective knowledge from a multidisciplinary team to reduce misdiagnosis, eliminate unnecessary testing, and expedite the identification of patients with pes cavus secondary to inherited neuropathy. The project will include several activities, including conducting an initial retrospective chart review and convening multidisciplinary group meetings consisting of sub-specialists who will discuss Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease from their perspectives. Based on the data collected from the retrospective chart review and knowledge gained from multidisciplinary meetings, Dr. Schwaede will create a diagnostic approach/algorithm for work up of pediatric pes cavus foot deformity with the hope that the algorithm could be applied in a future prospective study for new and returning patients with pes cavus foot deformity.
Arun Sharma, PhD
Director, Pediatric Urological Medicine and Surgical Research, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute
Award type: Proposal Revision Award
Amount funded: $100,000
Title: Bivalent Supramolecular Nanotherapeutics to Treat Chronic Inflammation
Project summary: Dr. Sharma will use the funds from the Proposal Revision Award to complete peptide amphiphile-mediated in vitro and animal studies suggested by the study section reviewers to accrue further preliminary data that would provide clarity and strengthen the proposal overall. Dr. Sharma anticipates completing these studies within the year of the funding mechanism; however, if he completes the studies earlier than anticipated, he will submit a revised proposal to the National Institutes of Health.
Laura Torchen, MD, MS
Attending Physician, Endocrinology, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Associate Professor of Pediatrics (Endocrinology), Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Award type: Endocrine Pilot Project Grant—Launch Award
Amount funded: $19,750
Title: Human Milk Macronutrient and Hormone Profiles in Mothers with PCOS
Project summary: Polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age and is associated with negative reproductive and metabolic outcomes, including insulin resistance and obesity. Previous research has established that intrauterine exposure to a suboptimal metabolic environment in the case of maternal obesity or gestational diabetes can negatively impact the metabolic outcomes of the offspring. There is growing evidence that these metabolic disorders can impact the content of the mother’s breastmilk even after birth, resulting in continued metabolic impact on the offspring. Dr. Torchen’s research will test the hypothesis that human milk of mothers with polycystic ovary syndrome differs in terms of macronutrient and hormone composition. She will also investigate for differences in breastmilk supply or other factors contributing to breastfeeding success in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, a group at potentially higher risk of lactation failure.
For the spring 2024 cycle, candidates were allowed to submit proposals for the following award categories.
· Device and Informatics Springboard Award is a six-month award for up to $25,000 to support projects focused on innovative analysis and visualization of currently available data from medical and investigational devices and the development of new devices and provide investigators with resources to initiate new research efforts with the potential to enhance the detection, treatment, and outcomes of childhood and adolescent diseases.
· Endocrine Pilot Project Grants are supported by the Division of Endocrinology and include two one-year grants to support collaborative project submissions that will provide preliminary data for future multidisciplinary grant applications while advancing the world of clinical or translational endocrinology.
o Launch Award is a one-year award for up to $20,000.
o Preparatory Award is a one-year award for up to $5,000.
· Interdisciplinary Colloquia Award is a one-year award for up to $5,000 to bring together multi-disciplinary investigators from Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and Northwestern University to share scientific knowledge and envision future research related to children’s health research.
· Kenneth C. Griffin Research Catalyst Award is a one-year award for up to $100,000 to support novel preclinical and translational research.
· Mary J.C. Hendrix Outstanding Graduate Student Award recognizes a Manne Research Institute graduate student for a high level of scholastic achievement, research engagement, and productivity with $5,000 to support the awardee’s research. The award is made possible through the ongoing generosity of the Children’s Research Fund. The award is for a one-year period.
· Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Research Pilot Awards are one-year awards to support trainees and early career faculty research projects in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.
o Early Career Faculty Pilot Research Award is a one-year funding opportunity for up to $20,000 to support early career investigators in conducting a research project under the guidance of an experienced faculty mentor, preparing early career investigators to pursue external research funding.
o Pritzker Pilot Research Award is a one-year funding opportunity for up to $40,000 to support projects that will be used to strengthen applications to the National Institutes of Health or other agencies.
o Trainee Pilot Research Award is a one-year funding opportunity for up to $5,000 to support mental health research projects for trainees in the Pritzker Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health and offer clinical and post-doctoral fellows support to conduct research under the supervision of an experienced mentor.
· Program Accelerator Award is a one-year award for up to $75,000 to support planning and development of program project-related applications expected to lead to a submission within 18-24 months of the start of funding.
· Proposal Revision Award is a one-year award for up to $100,000 to support the preparation of a revision and resubmission of an application for federal research support.
· Schreiber Family Center GROW to 5 Grants are supported by the Schreiber Family Center for Early Childhood Health and Wellness and allow for the collection of pilot data that will increase the competitiveness of extramural proposals for R, P, U, and K-series awards.
o Cultivate Award is for up to $25,000 for a one-year project period to engage family or community members to establish or enhance research partnerships.
o Flourish Award is for up to $75,000 for a one-year project period to develop a multi-project research program or cooperative agreement proposal.
o Nourish Award is for up to $50,000 for a one-year project to support the advancement of junior faculty pursuing mentored career development awards (K or equivalent)
o Thrive Award is for up to $50,000 for a one-year project period to collect pilot data for an R-series proposal.
· Scientific Advocacy Award is one-year award for up to $1,000 per year to advocate for children’s health research at the regional and national level and raise the stature of Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago investigators in scientific advocacy.
· Visionary Award is a one-year award for up to $75,000 to support potentially paradigm shifting research.
