Molecular and Cellular Research to Advance Child Health

The University of Iowa Child Health Research Career Development Award (CHRCDA) entitled “Molecular and
Cellular Research to Advance Child Health” was originally established in 1990 when NICHD first developed the
program. Since inception, our CHRCDA program has facilitated the career development of 43 junior pediatric
faculty. Our program is designed to support the academic career development of promising junior pediatric
faculty. Given our history, we anticipate training 8-10 Scholars for the 5-year duration of this award. This
program takes advantage of our present strenths, existing research programs, and established investigators by
placing particular emphasis on three major areas of pediatric research, namely Molecular Genetics,
Neurosciences, and Inflammation/Host Defenses. Specifically, this program will support and foster research
training of junior pediatric physician-scientists in cellular and molecular biology, applied genetics and
genomics, animal models of human disease, and translational research. The specific long-term goals and
objectives of this program are: (1) to provide junior pediatric physician scientists with research experiences and
technical training that they will then apply to current and future studies of the genetics and functional basis of
diseases that impact broadly on children’s health; (2) to provide junior pediatric physician-scientists with a
systematic cirriculum of formal instruction in fundamental skills that are necessary for the development of a
successful academic research career; (3) to provide a unique environment for junior pediatric physician-
scientists to study gene funciton across the biological spectrum from regulation at the molecular level thorough
to whole organism physiology; (4) to provide junior pediatric physician-scientists with an opportunity to acquire
new, innovative and state-of-the-art scientific research expertise in molecular and cellular biology, physiologic
genomics, neuroscience and translational research to bridge the gap between basic science research and
clinical pediatric medicine; (5) to attract the most talented junior pediatric physician-scientists and to recruit,
develop and train minority and women as independent investigators. To achieve these aims we have recruited
a cadre of senior faculty Mentors from diverse departments and units throughout the Department of Pediatrics,
the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and the College of Medicine. Oversight of the program will be achieved
through regularly scheduled meetings of an Internal Advisory Committee and presentations by each of the
Scholars. In addition, an External Advisory Committee will meet annually to review the program, assess
progress of the Scholars, and provide feedback regarding the effectiveness and operations of the program.
This program will ultimately improve the health and well-being of children through innovative research fostered
by the development of newly trained and highly effective pediatric physician--scientists.

Grant Number: 5K12HD027748-33
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: ALEXANDER BASSUK