# Integrative Research Training Program in Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Disease

> **NIH NIH T32** · RESEARCH INST NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSP · 2024 · $369,366

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The objective of this Nationwide Children’s Hospital(NCH)/Ohio State University(OSU) institutional T32
postdoctoral program is to provide interdisciplinary, state-of-the-art research training in pediatric heart and
lung diseases. Cardiopulmonary diseases in infants and children are among the most severe type
of pediatric illnesses ranging from congenital malformations and monogenic conditions to acquired
infectious/inflammatory diseases. Our program provides a unique integrated approach to prepare
trainees to become scientists and physician-scientists who will make basic, translational, and clinical
research discoveries through cooperative, collaborative team science. The rationale for this holistic
approach, which spans from molecular discovery and translational approaches using cell and animal
models to human clinical trials, is that these synergistic methods will more rapidly impact patient care and
therapies for children with cardiopulmonary diseases. We will provide an academic environment that
cultivates research training at a leading pediatric research institute affiliated with an internationally
recognized children’s hospital and university. Dynamic ‘bidirectional’ research tracks will allow for clinical
problems to be mechanistically studied by physician-scientists and new, discovery-based findings of
fundamental disease mechanisms in basic research labs to be effectively translated to the clinic. This
application seeks to support 4 trainees each year over the funding period. Fellows will be selected from
MD, DO, MD/PhD, or PhD trainees who hold strong interests in pediatric cardiopulmonary research and
are committed to careers in disease-oriented investigation. The Program Directors have strong records in
basic, translational, and clinical cardiopulmonary research and mentoring, and will serve as the training
program leaders. The training plan consists of laboratory and clinical research training supplemented by
courses, seminars, conferences, and exposure to industry relationships and non-traditional career
pathways. Each trainee will perform independent research under the direction of a mentor according to an
individualized mentoring program. The research areas encompassed by the 27 mentors, including 6
Mentors-in-Training, are represented by their affiliations at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at NCH
and The Ohio State University. An aggressive underrepresented minority recruitment and retention plan is
described to increase trainee diversity, and is a critical aspect of this program, which aligns with NCH and
OSU strategic priorities. A comprehensive trainee and mentor evaluation system, an integral component
of the training program, is also included. Overall metrics to determine success include programmatic
review by internal and external advisory committees and the successful execution of each trainee’s
individual mentoring program. Trainee-specific metrics include required coursework, mentoring team
evaluat...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10835110
- **Project number:** 5T32HL166149-02
- **Recipient organization:** RESEARCH INST NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSP
- **Principal Investigator:** Carl Backes
- **Activity code:** T32 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $369,366
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-07-01 → 2028-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10835110

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10835110, Integrative Research Training Program in Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Disease (5T32HL166149-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10835110. Licensed CC0.

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