# Molecular Basis of Pediatric Disease

> **NIH NIH K12** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $319,142

## Abstract

This proposal requests continued Child Health Research Career Development Award (CHRCDA) support for
the Molecular Basis of Pediatric Disease Training Program at the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (CHP). The primary goal of the Molecular Basis of Pediatric Disease Training
Program is to identify, mentor, and foster the careers of future leaders in pediatric research who are dedicated
to improving child health through discovery. The program offers a two-year experience for one-to-two scholars
per year focused on training in laboratory-based biomedical research relevant to child health. The training
experience is designed to allow scholars to establish careers as independent, NIH-funded pediatric physician-
scientists. The mentoring faculty includes 36 outstanding basic investigators who have a distinguished record
of research contributions and training. The emphasis of the training experience is on the fundamentals of
scientific inquiry combined with the highest standards of excellence for rigor and reproducibility. Each scholar
is expected to conduct an innovative research project in the laboratory of one of the faculty mentors leading to
publications and applications for individual NIH (or equivalent) grants. The program incorporates an innovative
near-peer mentoring initiative, a grant-writing course, and an annual Pediatric Discovery Day. The program
fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion among scholars, training faculty, and program leadership. The
Department of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh houses vibrant research programs on the CHP campus
and the 300,000-square-foot CHP Rangos Research Center. We have appointed 35 scholars to the CHRCDA
program at the University of Pittsburgh since its establishment in 1992; 33 have completed training. We also
use departmental resources to support additional junior faculty in the Molecular Basis of Pediatric Disease
Training Program, who are called CHP scholars and afforded training opportunities identical to those of the
CHRCDA scholars. We have appointed 23 CHP scholars to date; 20 have completed training. The outcomes
of our CHRCDA and CHP scholars are excellent. Of the 53 combined CHRCDA and CHP scholar program
graduates, 35 (66.0%) have obtained K02, K08, K23, K99, P20, R01, R03, or U01 (K/P/R/U) funding. Of the 44
combined graduates who completed program support at least 5 years ago, 32 (72.7%) have obtained K/P/R/U
grants, and 25 (56.8%) have secured R/U level funding. Of the 53 program graduates, 26 (49.1%) are currently
in laboratory-based, investigative careers with either active NIH funding or applying for NIH awards. One of the
graduates is a department chair, ten are division or center directors, and 13 are full professors. These
outcomes provide confidence that the Molecular Basis of Pediatric Disease Training Program selects talented
trainees, provides a powerful team of mentors, and offers an intellectually stimulating environment that wil...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10794415
- **Project number:** 5K12HD052892-17
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** TERENCE S. DERMODY
- **Activity code:** K12 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $319,142
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2007-02-10 → 2027-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10794415

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10794415, Molecular Basis of Pediatric Disease (5K12HD052892-17). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10794415. Licensed CC0.

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