The Pediatrics key function focuses on bringing research from the laboratory to children in Iowa and around the world. It has four primary aims including:
Some of the activities of the key function build on outreach partnerships with school nurses across the state. It continues to enroll families into a neonatal repository that includes both data and biological samples on infants born at or transferred to UIHC. In addition, it has worked closely with the Genetics and Genomics Core to expand these activities into other clinics at UIHC. It is currently in the process of exploring how best to obtain this information, consistent with IRB regulations and to improve the bioinformatic aspects used for the collection and analysis of the data.
The group is working with the Vermont Oxford Network to make use of state and national databases to develop a better understanding of perinatal risk factors within our state.
The group plans to participate in the National Children’s Study, which will seek to enroll 100,000 infants across the country over the next five years into a 20-year long longitudinal study of pediatric diseases and outcomes. The CTSA provides an outstanding opportunity to bridge and build on these plans and activities.
