# Prognostic modeling of pediatric tracheostomy-associated respiratory tract infections

> **NIH NIH K23** · JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $196,651

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
Each year over 4,000 children undergo tracheotomy and account for more than 20,000 hospitalizations
annually most commonly due to acute tracheostomy-associated respiratory infections (TARI). These
hospitalizations are most often due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. Efforts to improve the care of
children with tracheostomy are challenged by the limited body of evidence on how patient factors, features of
P. aeruginosa itself, and the child's immune response impact the risk of recurrent infection. This proposal will
address this critical knowledge gap by identifying and characterizing prognostic factors for frequent
rehospitalization in children hospitalized for TARI. In this K23 Mentored Career Development Award, Dr. John
Morrison will: 1) leverage existing data from a six-center prospective cohort study of children hospitalized for
TARI to identify clinical factors associated with recurrent TARI hospitalization; 2) prospectively determine the
association of pathogen-specific factors and features of the host immune response with frequency of recurrent
TARI hospitalization, and 3) derive a novel prognostic model incorporating clinical and molecular factors to
identify patients at increased risk for recurrent TARI hospitalization. Achieving these aims will facilitate Dr.
Morrison's long-term goal of leading prognostically-stratified interventional studies aimed at improving
outcomes for children with tracheostomy and others affected by frequent respiratory infections.
The applicant has dedicated his career to improving the care for children with chronic respiratory failure and
other medical complexity as a physician-scientist. He is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics with the Johns
Hopkins University (JHU) School of Medicine at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (JHACH) who seeks a
mentored career development award during which he will develop the advanced training, education, and
experience to become an independently funded investigator in biomarker-informed prognostic models and risk-
stratified clinical trials in children with tracheostomy. This proposal will provide Dr. Morrison with the support
needed to advance his career by 1) acquiring knowledge on the development and application of prognostic
modeling, 2) developing expertise in conducting biospecimen-based translational research, 3) preparing to
conduct a prospective, multicenter study validating a prognostic model and examining therapeutic strategies,
and 4) expanding his practical understanding of individual- and system-level factors contributing to recurrent
admissions among children with tracheostomy. Dr. Morrison will be supported by the extensive resources of
the Institutes for Clinical and Translational Research at JHACH and JHU and has assembled a strong team of
mentors with expertise in biomarker discovery, biomarker-informed prognostic modeling, and risk-stratified
clinical trials. He will also pursue coursework through the JHU Bloomberg School of Public...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10814369
- **Project number:** 5K23HL163331-02
- **Recipient organization:** JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** John M Morrison
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $196,651
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-03-17 → 2028-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10814369

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10814369, Prognostic modeling of pediatric tracheostomy-associated respiratory tract infections (5K23HL163331-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10814369. Licensed CC0.

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