2003-04 Research Highlights and Annual Report
CHANGE THE OUTCOME. These three words demonstrate our commitment at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to changing health care systems so all children benefit. We're transforming health care options that are available to our patients and improving how we deliver that care.
On both fronts, research is key.
Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation ranks among the top three comprehensive pediatric centers receiving National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants. We are the largest pediatric research program in the Midwest, conducting both basic and clinical research in nearly 600,000 square feet of state-of-the-art laboratory and office space. Construction has begun on an additional 415,000 square feet of research and office space to house our expanding academic programs.
In fiscal year 2004, our sponsored program awards reached an all-time high of $115 million, increasing nearly 18 percent over last fiscal year. More than $81 million came from the NIH. Several additional grants have already been funded in fiscal year 2005.
- $2.5 million over five years to Scott Holland, PhD, and Daniel Choo, MD, to evaluate functional magnetic resonance imaging as a minimally invasive predictive tool for cochlear implantation in infants
- $2.9 million over five years to Tim Hewett, PhD, to develop preventive approaches to anterior cruciate ligament injuries in the knees of adolescent female athletes
- $10.6 million over five years to Marsha Wills-Karp, PhD, to study how cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the overproduction of the cytokine interleukin-13 can lead to asthma
In addition, a $28 million grant from Ohio's Third Frontier Project is being used to establish the Computational Medicine Center as a collaborative venture between Cincinnati Children's, the University of Cincinnati School of Medicine and several Ohio-based commercial partners.
As of June 30, 2004, our faculty numbered 373, including 343 with full-time, primary appointments in the Department of Pediatrics, an increase of 31 over last fiscal year. Many of the 59 faculty in the Cincinnati Children's Department of Surgical Services, 29 in the Department of Anesthesia and 32 in the Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging also participated in Research Foundation activities. The first class of students in our new graduate program in immunobiology began their studies this year.
I invite you to read on to learn more about how Cincinnati Children's is changing the outcome for children. In-depth information on our research programs is available on CD-ROM. We welcome your interest.
Sincerely,
Thomas F. Boat, MD
Chair, Department of Pediatrics
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Director, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation
