Child Health Research

CHRPS members meet quarterly in person in the Domenici building on the UNM HSC campus to present and discuss their research pertaining to child health. Tuesday, January 28, 2025 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. in Domenici Hall North Wing Room 2706. We will share research projects with one another via posters and short presentations. This is also a fun and supportive forum for students, residents and fellows to present. Please join us here: CHRSP-CHGC Winter Event

The CHRSP regularly holds structured events showcasing and supporting child health research, thereby increasing awareness of research resources and activities.

Upcoming Structured Events:
Join the CHRSP and our community partners as we Celebrate National Injury Prevention Day.

Saturday, November 16, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Explora Science Center and Children’s Museum

The CHRSP solicits annual applications from all HSC faculty members – senior as well as junior investigators – for collaborative pilot projects on child health. Research may be prospective or retrospective, and clinical/basic science/translational in nature, but projects must involve two or more HSC schools or departments. Successful applications propose exploratory hypotheses intended to generate original data that can be used for future projects. Funding periods begin on July 1 and last 12 months. Requests for new applications are issued in early March, and applications are due mid-May.

Current Grant Cycle:

• The CHRSP FY 25 pilot grant cycle is now closed. The FY 26 cycle will open in March 2025.

Past CHRSP Grant Awardees:

• FY 2024: Ethan Hill, PhD, PI and Lexi O’Donnell, PhD, Co-PI. “A bone strength analysis of a pediatric postmortem CT sample from New Mexico”
• FY 2024: Rebecca Kilburn, PhD, PI and Co-PIs Kevin Estes, PhD, Claudia Diaz-Fuentes, PhD, and Edward Davis. "Recreational Marijuana Legalization and Adolescent Health in New Mexico"
• FY 2025: Christal Chow, MD and Wendy Hanna, MD, Co-PIs. “Learning curves for ultrasound-assisted lumbar puncture I hospitalized children”
• FY 2025: Shixi Zhao, PhD, PI and Brandon Rennie, PhD, Co-PI. “Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives and Medical Practice regarding Genetic Testing for Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders”

The UNM Child Health Grand Challenge issues pilot funds in the amount of $5000 - $10,000 for projects pertaining to child maltreatment prevention and supporting families. Child maltreatment is a multi-faceted issue that requires a collaborative approach. Projects may represent an array of scientific disciplines and community agencies, including epidemiology, communications, healthcare, economics, and public policy arenas.  Research may be prospective or retrospective, and clinical/basic science/policy/translational in nature. Successful applications will propose exploratory hypotheses intended to generate original data that can be used for future projects. Funding periods begin in September and last 12 months.

Current Child Health Grand Challenge Pilot Funding Cycle:

• The Child Health FY 2025 pilot grant cycle is now open. Click here to apply.

Recent Child Health Grand Challenge Grant Awardees:

• Sharon Ruyak, PhD, PI and Pilar Sanjuan, PhD, Co-PI. “A Qualitative Study of the Acceptability and Feasibility of Enhanced Perinatal Doula Care to Improve Maternal Mental Health”
• Melissa, PhD, PI, Katie Kivlighan, PhD, and Jennifer Crawford, PhD. “A pilot study examining lactation experiences and mental health”

CHRSP members support and participate in a variety of pediatric research activities around the HSC campus, including:

• Child Health Grand Challenge, working to prevent child maltreatment through research
• Perinatal Health ECHO
• Pediatric Office of Research Annual Research Forum

• Department of Pediatrics Grand Rounds - Learn from experts and earn CME credits at this weekly lecture series:
  https://hsc-unm.zoom.us/j/500241417, Passcode: 001954

Please share with us if there are additional pediatric research activities that you would like to see listed here.  

The UNM Child Health Grand Challenge presented a workshop ‘Understanding child maltreatment and its concomitants in New Mexico’ on November 8 as part of the 2nd UNM Research & Discovery Week.

Watch presentation here