# Pediatric Critical Care Research Landscape - A National Expert Conference

> **NIH NIH R13** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $60,285

## Abstract

We will plan and host a multidisciplinary workshop to systematically develop a master platform protocol for the
study of future interventions in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). Despite being a leading
cause of pediatric critical illness, safe and effective therapies for PARDS remains elusive. This is primarily due
to the challenges of translating the large collective body of knowledge on the disease and potential
interventions into the rigorous clinical trials needed to demonstrate their efficacy and safety. Our proposed
workshop is specifically designed to facilitate this crucial step, by systematically developing a master platform
protocol as an innovative and efficient strategy to rigorously study future PARDS interventions. To achieve this
objective and deliverable, we leverage the unique capabilities and expertise of the Duke Clinical Research
Institute (DCRI), the world’s largest academic research organization, and assembled both a panel of clinical
trial experts, and national, diverse panel of PARDS experts. Our workshop will provide logistical and
communication support to facilitate a quality-by-design driven collaboration between the PARDS expert panel
and a panel of clinical trial experts outside of the pediatric critical care field. This collaboration provides a
unique opportunity to infuse the field with new ideas and approaches successful in other research areas. The
PARDS expert panel is comprised of a diverse group of nationally and internationally acclaimed physician
scientists, while the complementary clinical trial expert panel includes faculty and staff leaders from the DCRI
with a vast collective knowledge and experience conducting innovative clinical trials in multiple adult and
pediatric specialties. This collaboration will be overseen by a workshop planning committee co-led by Drs.
Hornik and Zimmerman. Both are practicing pediatric intensivists with complementary expertise in clinical
research and a strong track record of collaboration, and designing and leading innovative pediatric clinical
trials. To enhance workshop planning and logistical efficiency, we will host the workshop as a pre-conference
to the 17th Optimizing Mechanical Ventilation Conference, an international conference on PARDS and acute
lung injury organized annually by the Duke Division of Critical Care Medicine in Durham, NC. Careful planning,
expert participation, and state of the art operational and communication support will ensure success of our
workshop, and deliver to the pediatric critical care community an actionable master platform protocol for the
efficient and rigorous study of PARDS interventions. This concrete deliverable ensures the public health impact
of our workshop, and serves as a roadmap to guide the development of future research efforts in other
pediatric critical illnesses.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9986245
- **Project number:** 1R13HD102136-01
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Christoph Hornik
- **Activity code:** R13 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $60,285
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-04-01 → 2022-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9986245

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9986245, Pediatric Critical Care Research Landscape - A National Expert Conference (1R13HD102136-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-12 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9986245. Licensed CC0.

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