A Letter from Thomas Boat, MD
Integration of many creative efforts in research, education and clinical care has been an important goal of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center during the past year. Resulting and remarkable synergies involving many of the medical, surgical and other programs has enabled significant progress in changing the outcome for families from around the world.
Thomas Boat, MD
We've broadened our research efforts to include not only basic science and translational efforts, but also health services delivery research and the study of health-related behaviors. Later this year, we will open our newest research and office facility with an additional 415,000 square feet to house our expanding academic programs. This new building will bring our state-of-the-art laboratory and office space to more than 1 million square feet, creating outstanding opportunities for collaboration and discovery.
Cincinnati Children's plans to make the most of these new possibilities with clear priorities for our investigators. One major goal is to create new options in gene and cell therapies through basic and translational research. Another priority is to build programs that link developmental biology research to congenital anomalies and disorders encountered in our clinical divisions. In addition, we are working to build strong research capabilities in quantitative genetics, adherence medicine, environmental health, bioinformatics and biobanking – all to support ongoing efforts to realize the promise of personalized, predictive medicine to patients.
Cincinnati Children's is now the second-highest ranking recipient of research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) among pediatric institutions. In 2006, total sponsored program awards exceeded a record $126 million, and of these funds, nearly $91 million was awarded by the NIH. As of June 30, 2006, our faculty numbered 420: 388 with full-time, primary appointments in pediatrics, and 32 with part-time appointments. Many of the faculty in the Cincinnati Children's Departments of Surgical Services, Anesthesia, and Radiology and Medical Imaging also participated in Research Foundation activities.
We have strong leaders in place to support our ambitious goals. In recent appointments, pediatric rheumatologist David Glass, MD, is now associate director of the Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation. Robert Colbert, MD, PhD, is the new director of the Division of Rheumatology. Thomas Kulik, MD, heads the Division of Cardiology.
Additionally, Arnold Strauss, MD, has been appointed as my successor. He will serve as the chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, chief medical officer of Cincinnati Children's and director of the Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation. I will step down from my position as chairman, but will remain on staff as a professor of pediatrics.
With more space, more funds and more people than ever before, the Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation will continue to grow in a highly synergistic way. Thank you for your interest.
Sincerely,
Thomas F. Boat, MD
Chair, Department of Pediatrics Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Director, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation
