Identifying Vitamin D Deficiency & Effect in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infants

描述(申请人提供)：这份K23奖项的申请书将为Sarah Taylor博士提供五年的保护时间和资金，以：(1)确定早产儿维生素D的充足程度，并确定实现和保持充足的维生素D需求，以及(2)通过生物统计学和流行病学以及临床研究伦理方面的培训，发展她的临床研究事业。随着对维生素D最佳状态和维生素D缺乏症已知的严重健康后果的了解的加深，泰勒博士的研究计划将走在解决维生素D缺乏症这一国家公共健康问题的研究的前沿。早产儿维生素D缺乏的风险很大，因为妊娠期母体缺乏症的发生率很高，暴露在紫外线下的时间有限，营养和维生素支持存在问题。泰勒博士开展了第一项研究，评估极低出生体重婴儿群体的维生素D状况与钙稳态、骨骼健康、甲状旁腺功能和免疫反应细胞因子等生物标志物有关。在确定了维生素D的充足状态后，泰勒博士将进行一项维生素D补充剂的干预性试验，以评估在所有早产儿中达到和保持充足并避免维生素D缺乏并发症所需的维生素D摄入量。泰勒博士在她的合作导师的支持和指导下发起了这个项目，这些导师在维生素D缺乏及其影响的研究方面都很有经验。她还得到了GCRC和儿科新生儿科的支持。泰勒博士的目标是成为一名独立的学术临床医生，他将在K23颁奖期间获得临床研究理学硕士学位。她还将通过每周系列研讨会的协调和工作组的参与，积极参与促进MUSC的临床研究伦理教育机会。随着泰勒博士完成她的研究学习和该奖项提供的临床研究培训，她将扩大研究结果，作为一名独立的临床研究人员进一步调查婴儿的营养需求。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application for the K23 award will provide Dr. Sarah Taylor with five-years protected time and funding to: (1) both define vitamin D sufficiency in preterm infants and identify the vitamin D requirements to achieve and maintain sufficiency and (2) to develop her career in clinical research with training in biostatistics and epidemiology as well as the ethics of clinical research. With improved understanding of optimal vitamin D status and the known serious health consequences of vitamin D deficiency, Dr. Taylor's research plan will be at the forefront of research that addresses the national public health concern of vitamin D deficiency. Premature infants are at great risk of vitamin D deficiency due to the high prevalence of maternal deficiency during gestation, limited exposure to UV light, and problematic nutritional and vitamin support. Dr. Taylor has developed the first study to evaluate vitamin D status in the very low birth weight infant population as related to biomarkers of calcium homeostasis, bone health, parathyroid function, and immune-response cytokines. After identifying the vitamin D status that denotes sufficiency, Dr. Taylor will perform an interventional trial of vitamin D supplementation to assess the vitamin D intake required to achieve and maintain sufficiency and avoid complications of vitamin D deficiency in all preterm infants. Dr. Taylor is initiating this project with the support and guidance of her co-mentors who are well-established in the investigation of vitamin D deficiency and its effects. She also has the support of the GCRC and the Division of Neonatology in the Department of Pediatrics. With the goal to become an independent academic clinician, Dr. Taylor will obtain a Master of Science degree in Clinical Research during the K23 award. She also will be actively involved in promoting clinical research ethics educational opportunities at MUSC through coordination of a weekly seminar series and work group involvement. As Dr. Taylor completes her research study and her training in clinical research afforded by this award, she will expand upon the study results to further investigate nutritional needs of infants as an independent clinical researcher.