# Identification of Young Infants with Bronchiolitis at Low Risk of Developing Respiratory Progression

> **NIH NIH K23** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $166,644

## Abstract

ABSTRACT / PROJECT SUMMARY
The long-term goal of this K23 Career Development Award is to prepare Dr. Son H. McLaren, MD, MS for an
independent research career focused on improving the health and outcomes of infants and children presenting
to acute care settings with bronchiolitis and other potentially severe infectious illnesses through the use of
predictive modeling, integrating continuously measured (time series) physiologic or vital sign data and machine
learning techniques. Bronchiolitis, a viral lower respiratory tract infection, is the most common reason for
emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in infants ≤90 days old, hereafter referred to as young
infants. In an ongoing prospective cohort study of young infants with bronchiolitis, Dr. McLaren found that
young infants are more likely to have potentially avoidable hospitalizations, when compared with broader age
of infants <2 years old. Over-hospitalization contributes to preventable exposure to nosocomial infections and
medical errors, undue caregiver psychosocial distress, and avoidable health care costs. As no clinical model
has been developed to predict the risk of respiratory progression in young infants, many ED clinicians struggle
with the decision to discharge infants to home even when they are well appearing. An accurate, reliable
prediction model that identifies infants at low risk of respiratory progression using clinically practical predictors
would facilitate safe ED discharge. Prior literature suggests that viral etiology and physiologic time series data
may augment prediction model accuracy, but little work has been done specifically in infants with bronchiolitis.
To address these gaps in knowledge, Dr. McLaren will pursue the following specific aims: to derive and
internally validate clinical prediction models using a) clinical history, physical examination findings, and viral
etiology (Aim 1) and b) physiologic time series data from bedside monitors (Aim 2), to identify young infants
with bronchiolitis at low risk of developing respiratory progression. Completion of these aims will create novel
prediction models incorporating comprehensive clinical, viral, and physiologic data that can inform clinical
decisions at the bedside and enable safe and objective disposition decisions. Dr. McLaren has formed a strong
team of mentors and advisors with complementary expertise in bronchiolitis epidemiology, clinical prediction
modelling, time series data analysis, and machine learning techniques to successfully conduct the proposed
study. With their dedicated mentorship, didactics, and rich training environment of Columbia University, Dr.
McLaren will achieve the following training goals: a) learn advanced research methods in clinical prediction
modeling, b) become proficient in analysis and model building using physiologic time series data, and c) gain
mentored experience in federally funded, multicenter emergency medicine research networks. The completion
of this K2...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10865892
- **Project number:** 1K23HD114879-01
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Son McLaren
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $166,644
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-06-20 → 2029-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10865892

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10865892, Identification of Young Infants with Bronchiolitis at Low Risk of Developing Respiratory Progression (1K23HD114879-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10865892. Licensed CC0.

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