# Pediatric Adverse Event Risk Reduction for High Risk Medications in Children and Adolescents: Improving Pediatric Patient Safety in Dental Practices

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2024 · $92,419

## Abstract

ABSTRACT:
The overarching goal of this candidate’s research is to address the health care needs of underrepresented
children diagnosed with a resonance disorder of hypernasality to establish potential programs and interventions
to increase access to needed health care services. The focus is hypernasality which is a resonance disorder
where excessive sound resonates from the nasal cavity during speech for a child who has undergone a primary
cleft palate repair called a palatoplasty.6 The main cause of a resonance disorder is Velopharyngeal Pharyngeal
Incompetence (VPI) which is typically evident post primary cleft palate repair and is characterized as
hypernasality which can affect an individual’s speech intelligibility. Post cleft palate repair, VPI can alter speech
outcomes. After surgical intervention, speech therapy is often needed to address VPI. Timing is key at improving
resonance for children who exhibit hypernasality.13 The proposed research will address finding barriers to speech
therapy services for underrepresented populations to ascertain their access to health care services. To achieve
this, we will use MarketScan databases to evaluate access to speech therapy services. Completion of this project
will advance the candidate’s pursuit of addressing health care disparities for underrepresented populations as it
relates to receiving speech therapy and health care services as an independent clinical research scientist.
To achieve the goals of this research plan and transition to independence, the candidate requires further
development in 1) secondary analysis of administrative data, 2) expertise in qualitative methods research to
inform and evaluate barriers to health care access, and 3) professional development as an independent
researcher. This proposal includes a strong team of mentors. Dr. Katie Suda is the Primary Investigator (PI) of
this grant and has multiple R01s, Dr. Leah Fabiano has significant training in health disparities research and R01
funding, Dr. Mandy Hampton Wray has a background in behavioral research as it relates to speech disorders
and R01 funding. Lastly, Dr. Noel Jabbour is a well-respected Otolaryngologist and has successfully published
research focused on children with cleft palate.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10879514
- **Project number:** 3R01DE030657-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** KJ Suda
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $92,419
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2023-12-05 → 2025-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10879514

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10879514, Pediatric Adverse Event Risk Reduction for High Risk Medications in Children and Adolescents: Improving Pediatric Patient Safety in Dental Practices (3R01DE030657-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10879514. Licensed CC0.

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