Baylor CHRC: Pediatrics Mentored Research Program

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DESCRIPTION (prepared by applicant): The purpose of the Baylor Child Health Research Center (CHRC) is to enhance academic research and career development for junior faculty in pediatric medicine. The primary strength of the Center is the application of molecular biological approaches to research in childhood related problems, but pediatric investigators using the whole spectrum of scientific methodologies are encouraged to compete for this support. The Center: a) Recruits high quality junior pediatricians from a variety of clinical and scientific backgrounds; b) Assures an appropriate and successful mentor match; c) Facilitates the development of the trainee's research and training program; d) Provides funds to support their individual research efforts; e) Provides educational support in the area of molecular biology study design, statistics and other cognates; and f) Makes available core laboratories to enhance their research in a cost effective fashion. The CHRCDA mentors are 35 investigators from 6 different departments. All mentors have active research programs and expertise in mentoring physician-scientists. CHRCDA Scholars develop research proposals with their mentors and submit applications for funding consideration. All applications are reviewed by the Steering Committee of 14 faculty members selected from the overall CHRCDA faculty. Applicants are provided written critiques of their proposals, and these critiques are reviewed with them by the Program Director personally. CHRCDA Scholars and former Scholars, together with their mentors, are eligible for educational and laboratory support provided by the CHRCDA in a prioritized fashion. The educational support is derived from the basic science curriculum at Baylor, together with divisional and departmental seminar series and the newly developed curriculum for clinical investigators. The laboratory support provides oligonucleotide synthesis, DNA sequencing and extensive computational support through an extension of the Molecular Biology Computational Resource at Baylor. Over the last 10 years, this approach to mentored research training for the academic development of pediatric faculty has been extremely successful. The Baylor CHRCDA has fostered the career development of 21 current members of the Baylor faculty. As such, the Center has been highly successful in guiding the research and career development of junior faculty and facilitating the research activities of established investigators at Baylor. Overall, the CHRCDA has achieved its original goal of fostering research for the benefit of the health of children and is a critical component of the faculty development program in the Department of Pediatrics. This grant submission seeks to continue this previous P30 program through the K12 mechanism.