Implantable Polyurethane Biomaterial
Polyurethanes are widely used in medical applications such as synthetic heart valves, vascular grafts, and pacemaker electrodes. However, their use is limited because of three major complications: calcification, thrombosis, and chemical degradation. Division of Cardiology researchers Robert Levy, MD, Stanley Stachelek, PhD, and Ivan Alferiev, PhD, have developed a method that uses low temperatures to modify polyurethanes, which eliminates these complications. Polyurethanes modified using this method do not cause in vivo calcification and thrombosis nor do they carry the risk of chemical breakdown. This technique represents a substantial improvement over existing synthetic methods and results in a highly biocompatible material that is amenable to cellular attachment and growth.
US Patent Number 7,408,014 B2

HIV Treatment Strategy
Building on a previously patented invention, Terri Finkel, MD, PhD, Division of Rheumatology, developed short interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences that inhibit HALP, a gene that plays a role in helping HIV-infected T cells survive attack by the immune system, and that increase cellular apoptosis. The interaction between these siRNA sequences and HALP may reduce the number of HIV-infected T cells, thus providing a new strategy for the treatment of HIV infections.
US Patent Number 7,405,292

Multimodal Imaging Technique
An imaging technique developed by Roberto Accorsi, PhD, Division of Radiology, could reduce the need for invasive tissue biopsies. The technique uses both radiographic and optical image detection methods to create a 3-D view of a tumor site. This innovation will facilitate cancer diagnoses and sentinel lymph node mapping procedures that determine the extent of a cancer’s spread.
US Patent Number 7,394,053

Neuroblastoma Treatment Marker
Garrett Brodeur, MD, Division of Oncology, has discovered that portions of the CDH5 gene are absent in neuroblastoma. This gene, which plays a role in neural development and pediatric brain tumors, may prove to be a valuable marker for determining the effectiveness of treatment modalities for neuroblastoma. It may also be a valuable target for new drugs developed to treat this intractable cancer.
US Patent Number 7,553,659 B2

Improved Image Processing
Martin Charron, PhD, Division of Nuclear Medicine, has created a system for acquiring multidimensional tomographic image data from single-photon emission computed tomography systems (SPECT) that enhances the resolution of SPECT images in a shorter period of time and with reduced exposure to radioactive tracers compared to the current system. This system provides 3-D, high-resolution functional data about metabolism in the brain, heart, kidneys, and other organs, and reduces the amount of time it takes for patients to have the scan.
US Patent Number 7,468,513

Drug Screening for Inflammatory Conditions
Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Michael Grunstein, MD, PhD, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, developed a method to screen for drugs that may treat asthma and other inflammatory conditions such as atopy, rheumatoid arthritis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. This innovation, which builds on a previously patented technology, may also identify genes involved in the inflammatory process, and may potentially lead to improved treatments for these conditions and methods to predict the likelihood that a patient will respond to a specific drug.
US Patent Number 7,435,548

Convenient Test for Disorders of Fat Absorption
One serious aspect of cystic fibrosis is the inability of the pancreas to produce a sufficient amount of enzymes needed to break down dietary fats. Pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis often suffer from growth failure due to malnutrition. Diagnosing dietary fat malabsorption is cumbersome, requiring patients to collect their stool samples and record their diet for three days. Virginia Stallings, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, developed an alternative diagnostic that involves taking small blood samples before and after administrating digestive fatty acid-containing solutions to the patient. The results of the blood tests determinate the patient’s fat absorption rates and thus the patient’s pancreatic function. This test is somewhat analogous to a glucose tolerance test and is much easier for a patient to undergo compared to the current diagnostic procedure.
US Patent Number 7,402,405 B2

Model of Cholesterol Movement
George Rothblat, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, developed an experimental model system that measures the movement of cholesterol in and out of liver cells. This measurement of cholesterol flux in a cell is an effective system for evaluating cholesterol-modulating drug candidates.
US Patent Number 7,402,404 B2

The following is a sampling of the research that was accomplished by more than 525 investigators.

To view additional publications, search PubMed at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/.

Publications

Studies Discover Autism Gene Regions and Biological Pathways

Two studies led by Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, have moved the field of autism research significantly ahead by identifying genes with important contributions to the disorder. Both studies, each published in Nature, used genome-wide association tools to identify genetic variants that affect the risk of a child developing an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and detected genes implicated in the development of brain circuitry in early childhood.

One study is the first to identify common genetic variants associated with autism. It found that children with ASDs were more likely than healthy controls to have gene variants on chromosome 5 in a region between cadherin 9 (CHD9) and cadherin 10 (CHD10), genes that carry codes to produce neuronal cell-adhesion molecules. These molecules help shape the developing brain’s structure and connections among brain regions, which may be an underlying problem in ASDs. The variants may contribute to as many as 15 percent of ASD cases in a population.

The second study identified deletions or duplications of DNA, known as copy number variations, that increase a child’s risk of having an ASD. The variants were enriched in genes that belong to two biological pathways involved with neuronal cell-adhesion molecules. One cluster of genes includes the family of neuronal cell-adhesion molecules identified in the first study. The other gene cluster is involved in the ubiquitin degradation pathway that acts to process and degrade the neuronal cell-adhesion molecules. Both networks play critical roles in the development of neuronal connectivity within the central nervous system.

The findings of these studies converge with evidence that children with ASDs may have reduced connectivity among neural cells and abnormal development of the brain’s frontal lobes. Ongoing research will capitalize on an increased understanding of how ASDs arise with the goal of improving clinical treatments.

PubMed Abstracts: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/19404256
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/19404257

ALK Gene Mutations Are Main Cause of Neuroblastoma

Yael Mosse, MD, and John Maris, MD, Division of Oncology, identified gene mutations that are the main cause of the inherited version of neuroblastoma and contribute to the more common, non-familial form of neuroblastoma. These findings help define the genetic events that can lead to the broad range of outcomes associated with the disease, which can spontaneously disappear with minimal treatment or be relentlessly aggressive.

Using genome-wide arrays to analyze the DNA of 10 families with neuroblastoma, the study team first discovered that a region of chromosome 2 was associated with the disease. Further sequencing of that region identified mutations in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene in eight of the 10 families. The study team then found ALK mutations in 12 percent of 194 tumor samples from the aggressive, high-risk form of the disease.

This study, published in Nature, is the first to identify mutations in ALK and is one of the few examples of a cancer caused by mutations in an oncogene. These findings enable the study team to develop the first genetic tests for families affected by the inherited form of this disease and to begin testing drugs in development that treat the ALK gene in adult cancers.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18724359

Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels Likely in Obese Siblings of Children With Type 2 Diabetes

Obese siblings of children with type 2 diabetes are at four times greater odds of having abnormal glucose levels indicative of pre-diabetes or diabetes compared to other obese children, according to a study led by Sheela N. Magge, MD, MSCE, Division of Endocrinology. Published in The Journal of Pediatrics, this is the first study to examine the risk of abnormal glucose levels among siblings of children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during childhood.

The study team looked at 62 obese children with a body mass index greater than the 95th percentile, 20 had a sibling diagnosed with type 2 diabetes during childhood and 42 did not. The groups were similar in age, gender, racial distribution, and pubertal status.

While the study showed that the sibling group was more likely than other obese children to have abnormal glucose levels, specifically impaired glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes, it did not show any significant differences in insulin resistance as measured by the homeostasis model assessment.

Clinical experience suggests that children with type 2 diabetes often have an obese sibling. Because abnormal glucose levels indicate that a child has or is at risk for diabetes, this study shows that obese siblings of children with type 2 diabetes could benefit from screening tests and diabetes prevention education.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/19028390

Protein Essential for Nervous System Development

Two studies led by Robert Kalb, MD, Division of Neurology, and published in the Journal of Neuroscience demonstrate the key role the protein GluR1 plays in controlling the growth of dendrites in the developing nervous system. These findings, achieved in animal models, provide a greater understanding of how neural architecture develops normally and may serve as a basis for eventual treatments of nervous system injuries.

The first study showed that GluR1 is present on the surface of nerve cells during the most vigorous period of dendrite growth shortly after birth and is lost as neurons mature and dendrites stop growing. Suppressing GluR1 activity in mice reduced dendrite growth and led to poorly developed connections between neurons, resulting in decreased strength and endurance, while increasing its expression led to extended stamina.

The molecular pathways by which GluR1 binds with SAP97, a scaffolding protein, to control dendrite growth shortly after birth were described in the second study. This study suggests that GluR1 transports SAP97 to the membrane of nerve cells where it can receive pro-growth signals to build dendrites.

PubMed Abstracts: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18829953; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18842882

Possible ‘Master Switch’ for Juvenile Arthritis Located
A gene region known to play a role in some types of adult rheumatoid arthritis is also present in childhood arthritis, and may act as a “master switch” that helps turn on juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), according to a study led by Terri Finkel, MD, PhD, and Edward Behrens, MD, Division of Rheumatology; and Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology. The genome-wide association study identified the genetic variant on chromosome 9 in a region housing TRAF1 and C5. This finding, published in Arthritis & Rheumatism, may be a clue to the specific disease pathway that leads to arthritis, and may help investigators create targeted treatments for JIA.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18576341

Two Genes Found to Contribute to Childhood IBD

Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Robert Baldassano, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, used a genome-wide association study to find two newly identified gene variants that increase the risk of childhood-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is often more severe than adult-onset IBD. The study identified one variant near the TNFRSF6B gene on chromosome 20 and one near the PSMG1 gene on chromosome 21. These genes, reported in Nature Genetics, are particularly strong candidates to be added to the list of genes already known to affect IBD and may help to build the foundation for personalized treatments tailored to a patient’s genetic profile.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18758464

Asthma Gene Affects White, but Not African-American Children

Variants in the ORMDL3 gene, known to raise the risk of childhood asthma in European children, are associated with childhood-onset asthma of any severity in white American children but not in African-American children, according to a genotyping study led by Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology. This study, which appeared in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, sheds light on the complex genetic interactions of asthma, which may pave the way for new customizable treatments.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18760456

Protein Helps Control Blood Cell Production

In a study that may help improve treatments for blood disorders, Wei Tong, PhD, Division of Hematology, found that the protein Lnk regulates hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) production by interacting with JAK2, another protein involved in stem cell production, making JAK2 unavailable to become activated by the growth factor thrombopoietin. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the study also found that mice that lack Lnk have HSC levels that are 10 times higher than normal. Surprisingly, the expanded HSC population in these mice includes a higher proportion of stem cells likely to contribute to a successful bone marrow transplantation.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18618018

Genetic Understanding of Type 1 Diabetes Expands

Using thousands of samples in a genome-wide association study, investigators led by Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, added two gene locations that raise the risk of type 1 diabetes to the increasing knowledge of the disease’s genetic risk. These genes, UBASH2A and BACH2, are active in immune cells that play key roles in autoimmune disorders such as type 1 diabetes. Published in Diabetes, the findings of this study will contribute to improved predictive tests and preventive strategies for type 1 diabetes.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18840781

Auditory Processing Is Delayed in Autistic Children

Using magnetoencephalography (MEG) to look at brain activity, investigators led by Timothy Roberts, PhD, Division of Radiology Research, found that children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) respond to vowel sounds and tones a fraction of a second more slowly than non-autistic children, which may lead to a cascade of delay and overload in further processing of sound and speech. This finding, published in the International Journal of Psychophysiology, is the first step toward developing “neural signatures” that can link recorded brain activity to specific behaviors in children with ASDs and may allow clinicians to more accurately diagnose and treat ASD subtypes.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18304666

New Technique Locates Crohn’s Disease Genes

Genes that contribute to Crohn’s disease were uncovered in a study that combined genome-wide association with a statistical tool that identifies genes interacting on the same biological pathways, published in The American Journal of Human Genetics. The most significant gene variants identified are located on the interleukin 12 (IL12) pathway, which controls cell receptors involved in the development of Crohn’s disease. This study, led by Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, may lead to drug therapies that target the IL12 pathway.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/19249008

Early Switch From IV to Oral Antibiotics Effectively Treats Bone Infection

Switching treatment from intravenous antibiotics to oral antibiotics is just as effective as continuing IV therapy when treating the bacterial bone infection acute osteomyelitis, according to a study led by Theoklis Zaoutis, MD, MSCE, Division of Infectious Diseases. Published in Pediatrics, this finding indicates that hospitals can orient their clinical guidelines for uncomplicated acute osteomyelitis toward early transition to oral medication, a treatment option that is more convenient for children and families and avoids the risk of complications associated with central venous catheters.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/19171632

Visual Inspection of Jaundice Does Not Estimate Bilirubin Levels

Ron Keren, MD, MPH, Division of General Pediatrics, found that the longstanding practice of visually inspecting newborn babies for signs of jaundice is an unreliable method of predicting the risk of developing hyperbilirubinemia. Visual inspection was especially non-predictive in late-preterm infants, who are at greatest risk of significant hyperbilirubinemia. Published in Archives of Disease in Childhood: Fetal and Neonatal Edition, these results indicate that universal bilirubin screening may be more beneficial than selective screening based on visual assessment of jaundice.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/19307221

Follow-Up Concussion Care Essential Before Resuming Activity

Children hospitalized with concussions should not resume regular sports or playtime activities before having a follow-up exam, according to a study led by Michael Nance, MD, FAAP, FACS, Division of General, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery, that used a computer-based testing program to assess children with concussions. The study, published in Annals of Surgery, found that nearly all children admitted to the hospital with a concussion had some abnormal brain function at the time of initial testing, indicating the importance of a follow-up exam even if symptoms are no longer apparent.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/19387313

Congenital HI Treatment Shows Promise in Animal Study

Investigators have used a peptide called exendin-(9-39) to normalize blood sugar levels in mice genetically engineered to have the same beta cell defect found in children with the most severe form of congenital hyperinsulinism (HI), a rare but potentially devastating genetic disease in which insulin levels become dangerously high. The study team also found that exendin-(9-39) normalizes blood sugar through a direct effect on insulin secretion. Led by Diva De Leon, MD, Division of Endocrinology, and published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, these findings may lead to an innovative medication for children with congenital HI.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18635551

BRAF Gene May Initiate Low-Grade Brain Tumors

Investigators led by Jaclyn Biegel, PhD, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, found a potential target for effective therapies in children with low-grade brain tumors composed of glial cells, known as gliomas. As published in Brain Pathology, genome-wide arrays of tumor samples uncovered a duplication in chromosome 7q34; additional analysis revealed alterations in the BRAF oncogene that may play a role in the initiation of these tumors. The results of this study are the first to identify a consistent pattern of genetic abnormalities in low-grade gliomas.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/19016743

Pregnancy Weight Gain Influences Weight of Child

According to a study led by Brian Wrotniak, PT, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, children whose mothers gain more than the recommended amount of weight during pregnancy are more likely to be overweight at age seven than children of mothers who gained adequate or insufficient weight. The results of this study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, indicate that helping pregnant women meet the recommended weight gain may be a new strategy for preventing pediatric obesity. These findings are particularly relevant since nearly half of U.S. women exceed the guidelines for recommended weight gain during pregnancy.

PubMed Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez/18541573

Grants

Contract Awarded to Study Duration of Antibiotic Use to Treat UTIs

Antibiotics are becoming less effective against infectious diseases because bacteria are increasingly resistant to commonly used antimicrobial drugs. The widespread threat of infections with resistant bacteria has the potential to affect the health of individuals and society as a whole. One strategy to reduce this resistance is to decrease the frequency and duration of the use of antimicrobial drugs.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarded Theoklis Zaoutis, MD, MSCE, associate chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases and associate director of the Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness, a grant to help answer key questions about the necessity of antimicrobial treatments, proper doses, and appropriate treatment intervals.

The study will determine the optimal duration of antibiotic treatment of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children, one of the most common serious bacterial infections of childhood. The initial award is $1.5 million, with a six-year total of $13.8 million if clinical trial milestones are met.

The largest clinical trial to compare a short course with the standard course of antimicrobial treatments for pediatric UTIs, the study will enroll more than 700 children to look at the effectiveness of antibiotic treatments from as long as 10 days to as short as 3 days.

Because the current standard duration of antibiotic therapy recommended to treat UTIs is not evidence-based, this study will allow doctors to improve pediatric care while reducing unnecessary use of antibiotics.

Award Supports Mentorship for Cancer Researchers

Anne Kazak, PhD, Division of Oncology, was awarded an Established Investigator Award in Cancer Prevention and Control from the National Institutes of Health to enable her to focus additional efforts on mentoring and research. Dr. Kazak, a well-established cancer investigator dedicated to understanding pediatric cancer survivorship, has mentored numerous investigators who have gone on to establish successful academic careers and federally funded research projects.

The 5-year award supports the mentorship Dr. Kazak provides to trainees, fellows, and junior faculty from a variety of backgrounds who are working on projects related to the psychosocial aspects of cancer. The award also extends the scope of two existing grant-supported projects to increase the number of opportunities for psychosocial oncology research and to advance Dr. Kazak’s overall research goals.

The first project looks at the connections between posttraumatic stress in young adult cancer survivors and their adherence to recommended survivorship treatments; the second pilots adaptations to interventions developed for families of patients who are newly diagnosed with cancer.

In addition, the grant supports Dr. Kazak’s efforts to create mini-courses for multidisciplinary research trainees. The courses are designed to attract and retain investigators interested in conducting psychosocial research and interventions in pediatric cancer and other serious pediatric illnesses. The first course developed was a writing workshop, future courses will focus on developing study measurements and working with families who are dealing with pediatric cancer.

Contract Awarded to Study Infant Feeding and Early Development

Virginia Stallings, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, was awarded a $4.86 million contract from Social Scientific Systems Inc. (SSS), on behalf of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, to conduct the Infant Feeding and Early Development (IFED) study.

This observational cohort study will compare a variety of developmental changes during early infancy and toddlerhood among children on one of three feeding regimens: breast milk, cow-milk based formula, or soy-protein based formula. By enrolling some mothers during pregnancy, the study also aims to examine whether prenatal exposures have an impact on early development.

During the infant phase of the study, approximately 250 infants will be followed from birth, boys until 7 months of age and girls until 9 months of age. The study team will assess the growth and development of infant participants by physical exam, specimen analyses, and ultrasound.

The toddler phase will focus on children aged 12 months to 24 months. The researchers will evaluate language acquisition, toy preferences, and developmental markers such as breast tissue and bone density in more than 750 toddlers from the three feeding groups. The findings of this study may have an impact on future feeding recommendations.

Children’s Hospital will serve as the IFED study’s clinical site and SSS will be the coordinating center. As lead investigator of the clinical site, Dr. Stallings has assembled an interdisciplinary team who will help conduct the IFED study.

Children’s Hospital IFED co-investigators are Babette Zemel, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition; Richard Bellah, MD, Division of Body Imaging; Judith Bernbaum, MD, Division of Neonatology; Andrea Kelly, MD, Division of Endocrinology; and Jerilynn Radcliffe, PhD, Division of Psychology.

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© 2009 by The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute, All Rights Reserved.

The 2009 Research Annual Report was produced by the Department of Research Communications.

Philip R. Johnson, MD
Chief Scientific Officer
Executive Vice President, Translational Medicine and Science
Director, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute

Tom Curran, PhD
Deputy Scientific Director

Peter Adamson, MD
Director, Office of Clinical and Translational Research

Mary Tomlinson
Deputy Administrative Director
Vice President, Research Administration

Translational Medicine and Science Committee
Tristram C. Colket Jr., Chair
Anne Faulkner Schoemaker, Vice Chair
Fred Biesecker
Richard R. Carr
Dominic Caruso
Philip R. Johnson, MD
James L. McCabe
Asuka Nakahara
R. Anderson Pew

Research Operations Council
Philip R. Johnson, MD, Chair
Peter Adamson, MD
N. Scott Adzick, MD
Steven M. Altschuler, MD
Deborah Barnard
Madeline Bell
Robert Berkowitz, MD
Alan Cohen, MD
Tom Curran, PhD
William Greeley, MD, MBA
Ellen Hyman-Browne
Diego Jaramillo, MD
Meg Jones
Virginia Stallings, MD
James Steven, MD
Thomas Todorow, CPA, MBA
Mary Tomlinson
Bryan Wolf, MD, PhD

Institutional Biological Safety Committee
Katherine High, MD, HHMI, Chair
Jeffrey Bergelson, MD
Christopher Coforio
Raymond Colliton
Crawford Hill III
Ian Krantz, MD
Denise Melvin
Paul Offit, MD
James Pierce, PhD
Mortimer Poncz, MD
Sue Souder
Rebecca Wiltshire, DVM

Institutional Intellectual Property Advisory Committee
Tom Curran, PhD, Chair
Mary Tomlinson, Vice Chair
Greg Baker, PhD
Terri Finkel, MD, PhD
Struan Grant, PhD
Mike Grunstein, MD, PhD
Robert Kalb, MD
Robert McNair Jr.
Ellen Purpus, PhD
Timothy Roberts, PhD
Lisa Speicher, PhD
Fraser Wright, PhD

Institutional Core Advisory Committee
Tom Curran, PhD, Chair
Harry Ischiropoulos, PhD, Vice Chair
Peter Adamson, MD
Craig Bassing, PhD
Alan Flake, MD
Lisa MacDowell
Eric Rappaport, PhD
Lisa Speicher, PhD
Nancy Spinner, PhD
Babette Zemel, PhD

Research Conflict of Interest Committee
Philip R. Johnson, MD
Jeffrey Kahn, JD
Mary Tomlinson

Research Trainee Advisory Committee
Michael Robinson, PhD, Chair
Wendy Williams, PhD, Vice Chair
Melissa Alderfer, PhD
Jeffrey Barrett, PhD
Jill Brodsky, MD
Lyngine Calizo, PhD
Andrew Chu, MD
Kelly Dougherty, PhD
Jake Kushner, MD
Stephen Leff, PhD
Sage Myers, MD
Yvonne Paterson, PhD
Berenice Saxon
Gail Slap, MD
Prema Sundaram, PhD
David Taylor, PhD
Rita Valentino, PhD
Mitch Weiss, MD, PhD

Centers of Emphasis

Center for Applied Genomics
Director: Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD

Center for Autism Research
Director: Robert Schultz, PhD

Center for Biomedical Informatics
Director: Peter White, PhD

Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics
Director: Katherine High, MD, HHMI

Center for Childhood Cancer Research
Director: John Maris, MD

Center for Developmental Biology
Director: Jeffrey Golden, MD

Center for Injury Research and Prevention
Director: Flaura Winston, MD, PhD

Center for Pediatric Clinical Effectiveness
Director: Ron Keren, MD, MPH

PolicyLab
Directors: David Rubin, MD, MSCE
Kathleen Noonan, JD
Susmita Pati, MD, MPH

Research Affinity Groups

Fetal Biology and Therapy
Group Leader: Alan Flake, MD

Genes, Genomes, and Pediatric Disease
Group Leaders: John Maris, MD; Nancy Spinner, PhD

Health and Behavior
Group Leaders: Anne Kazak, PhD; and Joel Fein, MD, MPH

Metabolism, Nutrition, and Physical Development
Group Leader: Babette Zemel, PhD

Mitochondria
Group Leaders: Marni Falk, MD; and Neal Sondheimer, MD, PhD

Neuroscience
Group Leader: Michael Robinson, PhD

Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis
Group Leader: Carolyn Felix, MD

Proteins
Group Leader: Yair Argon, PhD

Vaccine and Immunotherapies
Group Leader: Terri Finkel, MD, PhD

Endowed Chairs and Chairholders

Leonard and Madlyn Abramson Endowed Chair in Pediatric Urology
Chairholder: Douglas A. Canning, MD
Chief, Division of Urology

Leonard and Madlyn Abramson Endowed Chair in Pediatrics
Chairholder: Alan R. Cohen, MD
Physician-in-chief

Frederick H. Allen Chair in Child Psychiatry
Chairholder: Robert I. Berkowitz, MD
Chair, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Gisela and Dennis Alter Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neonatology
Chairholder: Harry Ischiropoulos, PhD
Director, Neonatology Research

David Lawrence Altschuler Endowed Chair in Genomics and Computational Biology
Chairholder: Peter S. White, PhD
Director, Center for Biomedical Informatics

Mary D. Ames Endowed Chair in Child Advocacy
Chairholder: Christopher B. Forrest, MD, PhD

Lester Baker Endowed Chair in Pediatric Diabetes
Chairholder: Michael A. Levine, MD

Michael and Charles Barnett Endowed Chair in Pediatric Mitochondrial Medicine and Metabolic Diseases
Chairholder: Paige Kaplan, MB, BCh

James Battaglia Endowed Chair in Pediatric Pain Management
Chairholder: Gordon Barr, PhD

William H. Bennett Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Chairholder: Katherine High, MD, HHMI

Fred and Suzanne Biesecker Endowed Chair in Pediatric Liver Disease
Chairholder: David A. Piccoli, MD
Chief, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition; Director, Biesecker Pediatric Liver Center

Evelyn Willing Bromley Endowed Chair in Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Chairholder: Michael Bennett, PhD
Director, Michael J. Palmieri Metabolic Laboratory

Evelyn Willing Bromley Endowed Chair in Pathology and Clinical Laboratories Chairholder: Jeffrey A. Golden, MD
Interim Chair, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine; Chief, Developmental Biology Center

Catherine D. Brown Endowed Chair in Pediatric Epilepsy
Chairholder: Dennis Dlugos, MD

Buck Family Endowed Chair in Hematology
Chairholder: Pending

Daniel B. Burke Endowed Chair for Diabetes Research
Chairholder: Pending

Henry S. Cecil, MD, Endowed Chair in Rehabilitative Medicine at Children’s Seashore House
Chairholder: Susan E. Levy, MD
Director, Regional Autism Center

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Adolescent Medicine Chairholder: Pending

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Critical Care Medicine Chairholder: Vinay Nadkarni, MD

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Fetal Therapy
Chairholder: Mark Paul Johnson, MD

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology Chairholder: Mortimer Poncz, MD
Director, Division of Hematology

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurology
Chairholder: Robert R. Clancy, MD
Director, Pediatric Regional Epilepsy Program

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neuroradiology Chairholder: Robert Zimmerman, MD
Chief, Division of Neuroradiology, MRI

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neurosurgery Chairholder: Pending

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
Chairholder: John P. Dormans, MD
Chief, Division of Orthopaedics

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Pediatric Otolaryngology Chairholder: Steven D. Handler, MD
Associate Director of Otolaryngology

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Pediatric Radiology
Chairholder: James S. Meyer, MD
Associate Radiologist-in-chief

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
Chairholder: Cindy Christian, MD
Director, Child Abuse Services; Co-director, Safe Place

Ruth M. Colket Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nursing
Chairholder: Barbara Medoff-Cooper, PhD

Ruth M. and Tristram C. Colket Jr. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery
Chairholder: Alan W. Flake, MD
Director, General Surgery Fellowship Program

Colman Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Chairholder: Robert N. Baldassano, MD

David Cornfeld Endowed Chair in Pediatrics
Chairholder: Richard Rutstein, MD
Medical Director, Special Immunology Service

Jean Cortner Endowed Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology
Chairholder: Virginia A. Stallings, MD
Section Chief, Nutrition

Nicholas Crognale Endowed Chair in Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Chairholder: Kathy M. Shaw, MD
Chief, Division of Emergency Medicine

Giulio D’Angio Endowed Chair in Neuroblastoma Research
Chairholder: John Maris, MD
Chief, Division of Oncology

John J. Downes, MD, Endowed Chair in Pediatric Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine
Chairholder: William J. Greeley, MD, MBA
Anesthesiologist-in-chief

Mary Downs Endowed Chair in Pediatric Craniofacial Treatment and Research Chairholder: Richard Kirschner, MD
Director, Craniofacial Program

John W. Duckett Jr. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Urology
Chairholder: Pending

Audrey E. Evans Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology
Chairholder: Garrett M. Brodeur, MD

Friends of Brian Endowed Chair in Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Chairholder: Pending

William T. Grant Endowed Chair in Child Development and Rehabilitation
Chairholder: Marc Yudkoff, MD
Chief, Division of Child Development and Rehabilitation

Jane Fishman Grinberg Endowed Chair in Stem Cell Research
Chairholder: Mitch Weiss, MD, PhD

Steven D. Handler Endowed Chair in Medical Ethics
Chairholder: Christopher Feudtner, MD, PhD, MPH
Director, Department of Medical Ethics

Robert and Dolores Harrington Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiology
Chairholder: Jack Rychik, MD

Werner and Gertrude Henle Endowed Chair
Chairholder: Phyllis Dennery, MD
Chief, Division of Neonatology

Maurice R. Hilleman Endowed Chair in Vaccinology
Chairholder: Paul Offit, MD
Chief, Division of Infectious Diseases

Joseph Lee Hollander Endowed Chair in Pediatric Rheumatology
Chairholder: Terri Finkel, MD, PhD
Chief, Division of Rheumatology

John H. and Hortense Cassell Jensen Endowed Chair in Pediatric Development and Teaching
Chairholder: Stephen Ludwig, MD
Associate Physician-in-chief for Medical Education

Joshua Kahan Endowed Chair in Pediatric Leukemia
Chairholder: Pending

C. Everett Koop Endowed Chair in Pediatric Surgery
Chairholder: N. Scott Adzick, MD
Surgeon-in-chief

Laffey-Connolly Endowed Chair in Pediatric Nephrology
Chairholder: Bernard S. Kaplan, MB, BCh
Chief, Division of Nephrology

Dr. Bong S. Lee Endowed Chair in Pediatric Orthopaedics
Chairholder: Pending

Mabel E. Leslie Endowed Chair in Pediatric Ophthalmology
Chairholder: Monte Mills, MD
Chief, Division of Ophthalmology

Grace R. Loeb Endowed Chair in Neurosciences
Chairholder: Gihan I. Tennekoon, MD
Chief, Division of Neurology

Robert Gerard Morse Endowed Chair in Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine
Chairholder: Julian Allen, MD
Chief, Division of Pulmonary Medicine

Thomas Moshang Endowed Chair in Endocrinology
Chairholder: Pending

E. Mortimer Newlin Endowed Chair in Pediatric Otolaryngology and Human Communication
Chairholder: Ralph Wetmore, MD

Edmond F. Notebaert Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research
Chairholder: Philip R. Johnson, MD
Chief Scientific Officer; Executive Vice President, Translational Medicine and Science; Director, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute

Yetta Deitch Novotny Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology
Chairholder: Beverly J. Lange, MD
Medical Director, Oncology Clinical Services and Clinical Research

Oberkircher Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Radiology
Chairholder: Timothy Roberts, PhD
Vice Chair of Research, Department of Radiology

Patrick S. Pasquariello Jr. Endowed Chair in General Pediatrics
Chairholder: Louis M. Bell, MD
Chief, Division of General Pediatrics

Stanley Plotkin Endowed Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Chairholder: Jeffrey M. Bergelson, MD

William Potsic Endowed Chair in Pediatric Otolaryngology and Childhood Communication
Chairholder: Pending

Peter Randall Endowed Chair in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Chairholder: Scott P. Bartlett, MD
Chief, Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Russell C. Raphaely Endowed Chair in Critical Care Medicine
Chairholder: Robert A. Berg, MD
Chief, Division of Critical Care Medicine

William J. Rashkind Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiology
Chairholder: Robert J. Levy, MD
Director, Pediatric Cardiology Research Laboratory

Regional Autism Center Endowed Chair
Chairholder: Robert T. Schultz, PhD
Director, Center for Autism Research

Mildred L. Roeckle Endowed Chair at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Chairholder: Bryan A. Wolf, MD, PhD
Chief Information Officer

Richard and Sheila Sanford Endowed Chair in Pediatric Oncology
Chairholder: Michael D. Hogarty, MD

Hubert J.P. and Anne Faulkner Schoemaker Endowed Chair in Pediatric Neuro-oncology
Chairholder: Peter C. Phillips, MD
Director, Pediatric Neuro-oncology Program

Elias Schwartz, MD, Endowed Chair in Hematology
Chairholder: Kim Smith-Whitley, MD

Letitia B. and Alice Scott Endowed Chair in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology
Chairholder: Elaine H. Zackai, MD
Director, Clinical Genetics

William Wikoff Smith Endowed Chair in Pediatric Genomic Research
Chairholder: Vivian Cheung, MD, HHMI

Evelyn Rome Tabas Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiology
Chairholder: Victoria L. Vetter, MD
Chief, Division of Cardiology

Daniel M. Tabas Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chairholder: J. William Gaynor, MD

Josephine J. Templeton Endowed Chair in Pediatric Anesthesiology Clinical Education
Chairholder: Susan C. Nicolson, MD
Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology

Josephine J. and John M. Templeton Jr. Endowed Chair in Pediatric Trauma Chairholder: Michael L. Nance, MD, FAAP, FACS
Director, Pediatric Trauma Program

Jennifer Terker Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiology
Chairholder: Robert E. Shaddy, MD

Charles E.H. Upham Endowed Chair in Pediatric Medicine
Chairholder: Beverly S. Emanuel, PhD
Chief, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology

William L. Van Alen Endowed Chair in Pediatric Radiology
Chairholder: Diego Jaramillo, MD
Radiologist-in-chief

Frank R. Wallace Endowed Chair in Infectious Diseases
Chairholder: Kathleen Sullivan, MD, PhD
Chief, Division of Allergy and Immunology

Alice Langdon Warner Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Chairholder: Thomas L. Spray, MD
Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Wawa Endowed Chair in International Adoption
Chairholder: Susan Friedman, MD

Frank E. Weise III Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology
Chairholder: Gerd Blobel, MD, PhD

Mai and Harry F. West Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research
Chairholder: Tom Curran, PhD
Deputy Scientific Director

Evelyn and George Willing Endowed Chair in Pathology Research
Chairholder: Janis Burkhardt, PhD

Administrative Units and Directors

Clinical Trials Office
Lisa Speicher, PhD, Director
Nirmala Thevathasan, Associate Director

Core Services
Lisa MacDowell, Administrative Director

Office of Clinical and Translational Research
Peter Adamson, MD, Director

Office of Faculty Development
Virginia Stallings, MD, Director
Mary Blitzer Field, Assistant Director

Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
Wendy Williams, PhD, Director
Jodi Leckrone, Assistant Director

Office of Research Compliance and Regulatory Affairs
Deborah Barnard, Director

Office of Responsible Research Training
Wendy Williams, PhD, Director
Jodi Leckrone, Assistant Director

Office of Technology Transfer
Ellen Purpus, PhD, Director
Greg Baker, PhD, Associate Director
Debbie Schmidt, Associate Director

Research Acquisitions and Contracting
Kim Gossin, Manager

Research Communications
Jennifer Long, Director

Research Finance
Steve Wiley, Director
Luz Arrison, Assistant Director
Bethann Kurek, Assistant Director
Sonji Robinson, Assistant Director

Research Human Resources
Alexandra Jorgensen, Director

Research Information Systems
Peter Witzleb, Director
Robert Del Campo, Assistant Director

Research Resources
Howard Eck, Director

Research Safety
Raymond Colliton, Program Officer

Sponsored Projects and Research Business Management
Sara Dubberly, Director
Deborah Grupp-Patrutz, Assistant Director
Brigid Czyszczon, Assistant Director

The Colket Translational Research Building, the first of several buildings slated for the Hospital’s new South Campus, is named for Ruth M. and Tristram C. Colket Jr. in appreciation of their $25 million donation toward Children’s Hospital’s goal to advance translational research — moving basic science investigations into real-life treatments and cures.

The $400 million research tower comprises four new laboratory floors; a two-story ground floor housing a lobby, cafeteria, and conference space; and four administrative office floors, three of which are convertible to future laboratory use. The building is designed to expand vertically to 23 stories to provide for future growth.

The research tower’s construction followed an initial phase of construction involving four stories below grade, which provide infrastructure and laboratory support space as well as an expandable central utility plant to support the entire development of Children’s Hospital’s new South Campus. The South Campus — sitting on a portion of the former Philadelphia Civic Center site — consists of nearly eight acres of land directly across from Children’s Hospital’s current clinical and research facilities.

The new 11-story, 450,000-square-foot research building provides flexible state-of-the-art laboratory space that will not only advance the Hospital’s world-class research program but will also enable the Hospital to recruit top-level investigators.

“This new building provides the space, equipment, and technology required to advance pediatric medicine, and will attract the best and brightest investigators, who will have greater resources and flexibility to conduct their research,” says Philip Johnson, MD, chief scientific officer and executive vice president for Translational Medicine and Science.

In addition, the Colket Building is a “green” building, having achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, certification. LEED is an internationally recognized rating system for environmentally responsible buildings.

Design approaches that led to the certification include thermal windows; light-colored roofing and paving materials to reduce the heat-island effect that can create a warmer microclimate in urban areas; an energy-recovery system for the heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system; highly reflective materials around the windows to reduce the amount of solar radiation through the windows; and wood furniture and casework made of materials that meet the criteria of the Forest Stewardship Council, which encourages socially responsible forest management practices.

“The Colket Translational Research Building represents the future of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and a healthier future for children everywhere,” says Steven M. Altschuler, MD, the Hospital’s president and chief executive officer. “Medical research has never been more promising, and I am confident that the greatest advances in pediatric research will occur in this state-of-the-art facility.”

But the success of the Hospital and the Research Institute does not rest solely with a commitment to excellence and motivated and gifted people. For more than 150 years, the Institution’s endeavors and accomplishments have been inexorably entwined with philanthropy. Through these gifts — both large and small — Children’s Hospital is continuously positioned to realize its mission.

One of the greatest, most significant philanthropic gifts to research rests with endowed chairs, a deeply meaningful and permanent form of giving that allows the chairholders to engage in vigorous scientific discovery and advance the health of children across the globe.

Over the last seven years alone, during the Hope Lives Here campaign, 35 new endowed chairs were created, supporting research and groundbreaking programs at Children’s Hospital. There are now 74 fully funded chairs and another 12 have been pledged by donors. During the fiscal year the Hospital’s board of trustees established the following endowed chairs:

• The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Endowed Chair in Adolescent Medicine
• Colman Family Endowed Chair in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease, awarded to
  Robert N. Baldassano, MD
• Steven D. Handler Endowed Chair in Medical Ethics, awarded to
  Christopher Feudtner, MD, PhD, MPH
• Robert and Dolores Harrington Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiology, awarded to
  Jack Rychik, MD
• Stanley Plotkin Endowed Chair in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, awarded to
  Jeffrey M. Bergelson, MD
• Jennifer Terker Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiology, awarded to Robert E. Shaddy, MD
• Wawa Endowed Chair in International Adoption, awarded to Susan Friedman, MD
• Frank E. Weise III Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology, awarded to Gerd Blobel, MD, PhD

TBI can occur in a variety of events ranging in severity from an automobile accident to a seemingly innocuous bump on the head that can occur during a child’s normal play. However, even injuries considered mild and associated with limited cognitive effects — like a temporary change in mental status — can set into a motion a cascade of events inside the brain that can lead to long-lasting problems.

Akiva Cohen, PhD, Division of Neurology, is investigating changes in the limbic system of the brain that lead to TBI-induced cognitive impairments. The center of this investigation involves changes in the levels of branched-chain amino acids after TBI.

Using lateral fluid percussion injury coupled with behavioral testing and other laboratory techniques, Dr. Cohen and his colleagues noticed a significant decrease in the levels of these critical branched-chain amino acids in the hippocampus, a part of the brain often injured in TBI that plays a role in higher cognitive functioning such as emotion, learning, and memory. These amino acids are essential for the synthesis of both excitatory (glutamate) and inhibitory (GABA) neurotransmitters. Normal hippocampal function is dependent on the balance between the excitatory and inhibitory systems.

Refurbishing the optimum levels of these amino acids therefore becomes key to minimizing the cognitive effects of mild to moderate TBI by restoring hippocampal function.

Their innovative research has lead to the development of a potential approach to actively and quickly restore the necessary balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission to the hippocampus before long-term effects can take hold.

“Re-establishing the normal concentration of branched-chain amino acids after injury may lead to the restoration of the balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission necessary for normal hippocampal function, leading to cognitive improvement after TBI,” says Dr. Cohen.

Dr. Cohen and his colleagues believe that the dietary consumption of these critical branched-chain amino acids, mixed with water and delivered over a period of several days, may bring about this balance and restore the levels of branched-chain amino acids to normal after a mild-to-moderate TBI.

“It is our hope that after further investigation we may have a relatively easy, rapid, and cost-effective way to prevent any devastating, long-term cognitive dysfunction caused by traumatic brain injury,” says Dr. Cohen.

Oncology investigators are unraveling the mysteries of both common and rare cancers; infectious disease research teams are reinvigorating the hope of an HIV vaccine; injury prevention investigators are finding new approaches to keep children safe; and geneticists and disease experts are working together to target the genes that contribute to a multitude of complex disorders.

The excellence of our research community is the foundation of the Institute’s continued research successes. As evidence of the Institute’s extraordinary achievements, members of the CHOP Research community have received numerous awards. Those featured here — a fraction of the honors bestowed on our world-class investigators — honor exceptional contributions to an improved understanding of disease, dedication to navigating complex roads to discovery, and demonstrated abilities and drive for future research success.

Peter Gruber, MD, PhD, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery; Jake Kushner, MD, Division of Endocrinology; and Valder Arruda, MD, PhD, Division of Hematology, were elected to the American Society for Clinical Investigation, an honor society of physicians who have accomplished outstanding achievements relatively early in their careers.

Alexander Fiks, MD, MSCE, Division of General Pediatrics, received a Young Investigator Award from the Academic Pediatric Association/Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for his project, “Shared Decision Making in Pediatrics: A National Perspective.”

Janet Lioy, MD, Division of Neonatology, received the Mead Johnson Academic Community Outreach Award, which is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to neonatal outreach in the community. Dr. Lioy was also awarded the March of Dimes Salute to Women of Achievement Award for her dedication to neonatal care education and advancements.

Timothy Roberts, PhD, Division of Radiology Research, received the 2009 Princeton Lecture Series Fellowship award at the 15th annual Eden Institute Foundation/Princeton Lecture Series as a tribute to his career in the field of autism.

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America honored Theoklis Zaoutis, MD, MSCE, associate chief, Division of Infectious Diseases with their Pediatric Investigator Award in recognition of his exemplary contributions to infection control and healthcare epidemiology.

Ian Krantz, MD, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, was nominated to the National Organization of Rare Disorders Hall of Fame for his work on Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS) that has raised awareness of CdLS, paved the way for diagnostic tests, and enhanced the understanding of how CdLS works.

The American Philosophical Society presented Jordan Orange, MD, PhD, Division of Allergy and Immunology, with the Judson Daland Prize for his outstanding achievements in patient-oriented research that have led to fundamental insights into defects of the innate immune system and natural killer cells.

Jack Rychik, MD, Division of Cardiology, received the 2009 Feignbaum Award from the American Society of Echocardiography, which is granted to a luminary investigator in the field of echocardiography.

Kevin Osterhoudt, MD, MSCE, Division of Emergency Medicine, received the American College of Medical Toxicology Award for Significant Contributions to the Educational Pursuits of Medical Toxicology.

Terri Lipman, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, Division of Endocrinology, was nominated as an Edge Runner by the American Academy of Nursing for her innovative work on improving the accuracy of linear growth assessments in children. Dr. Lipman was also named as the Miriam Stirl Term Endowed Chair of Nutrition in the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

Elizabeth Weller, MD, Division of Child and Adolescent Psychology, received the Special Chairman’s Award from the University of Pennsylvania Department of Psychiatry.

The American Academy of Pediatrics awarded David Sherry, MD, Division of Rheumatology, with the James T. Cassidy Award in recognition of his outstanding service as a pediatric rheumatology educator, especially his excellence in mentoring fellows.

Hakon Hakonarson, MD, PhD, Division of Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, received the 2009 Scripps Genomics Medicine Award for Pioneering Discoveries in Pediatric Genomics.

Lisa Meltzer, PhD, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, received the Investigator Award from the Childhood Sleep Disorders and Development Section of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness presented J. Fraser Wright, PhD, with the Board of Directors Award for his contributions toward developing a highly innovative vision-restoring gene therapy treatment, which the foundation called “one of the most important advances ever made in retinal and ophthalmological research.”

Antonella Cianferoni, MD, PhD, Division of Allergy and Immunology, received the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorder’s HOPE Junior Investigator Award for her project, “Genomics and Biomarkers of Eosinophilic Esophagitis.”

The career and accomplishments of H. Fred Clark, PhD, Division of Infectious Diseases, were featured in a “Portrait of a Leading Vaccinologist” by Human Vaccines, a leading vaccination journal.

Paul Weinberg, MD, Division of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, received the Robert Dunning Dripps Memorial Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education from the University of Pennsylvania.

The Fibromuscular Dysplasia Society of America presented Kevin Meyers, MB, BCh, Division of Nephrology, with their Founders Award.

Katherine Bevans, PhD, Division of General Pediatrics, was honored by the National Association of School Psychologists as an Early Career Scholar.

Samir Shah, MD, MSCE, Division of Infectious Diseases, was awarded the Excellence in Research Award from the Society of Hospital Medicine Excellence.

John Maris, MD, chief, Division of Oncology, received the Leonard Berwick Memorial Teaching Award from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine for integrating basic and clinical science in his teaching. Dr. Maris also was elected to the Interurban Clinical Club, a group of leaders in internal medicine from a selection of East Coast medical schools.

Jeffrey Barrett, PhD, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, received the Bio-IT World Best Practice Award, Judges Prize, for Pediatric Knowledgebase, a tool designed to help physicians individually manage patients’ drug therapy.

Joshua Friedman, MD, PhD, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, was named Researcher of the Year by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Liver Foundation.

Valerie Brown, MD, PhD, Division of Oncology, was awarded a Kimmel Scholar Award by the Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research. The award was given to young scientists who established themselves through publications in peer-reviewed journals known for their quality, prominence, and influence in cancer research.

Anne Kazak, PhD, Division of Oncology, received the 2009 American Psychological Foundation Cummings PSYCHE Prize in recognition of her significant and enduring contributions to expanding the role of the psychologist as a primary care provider.

Alix Seif, MD, MPH, Division of Oncology, received the Young Investigator Award from the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Anna Meadows, MD, received the National Leukemia/Lymphoma Society’s highest honor, the Return of the Child Award, for her many contributions to the research and therapy of childhood cancer.

Division of Oncology investigators Brian Lestini, MD, PhD, and Robin Perry, MD, were both selected for an American Society of Clinical Oncology Young Investigator Award.

Beverly Lange, MD, Division of Oncology, received a Children Oncology Group Lifetime Achievement Award.

Craig Bassing, PhD, Division of Cell Pathology, was selected for the 2008 Lassin Family Cancer Research Award from the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center.

Among her many achievements, Dr. Evans developed the Evans Neuroblastoma Staging System to assign treatment based on tumor stage, described the spontaneous regression of some cases of neuroblastoma, established a series of international neuroblastoma research meetings that has evolved into the prestigious Advances in Neuroblastoma Research biennial international conferences, and helped to form and lead the first Childhood Cancer Cooperative Group whose efforts dramatically increased cure rates in a variety of childhood cancers.

In addition, Dr. Evans recognized the importance of incorporating nursing, psychology, and social work into oncology programs, an innovative approach that has affected the care of every child with cancer.

Dr. Evans has impacted generations of patients at Children’s Hospital and throughout the world. She has received an outstanding number of awards in the field of pediatric oncology, most recently the 2009 Pitcher of Hope Award, presented annually to a CHOP professional who shows extraordinary commitment to caring for children with cancer.

In her retirement, Dr. Evans will remain an active part of national and international childhood cancer programs.