Research Agenda
NASPGHAN provides resources and programs to encourage, foster and enhance the subspecialty and careers of pediatric gastroenterologists, hepatologists and nutritionists.
While broad in nature, these activities are integrally linked and rely on research for their advancement. In this context, NASPGHAN and the NASPGHAN Foundation have been sources of research support and leading partners with government, industry, and relevant agencies to help fund research initiatives.
There have been numerous scientific advancements in the field of medicine, namely from molecular, clinical, and health economic perspectives. We now have a greater understanding of the molecular and genetic mechanisms of health and disease. In addition, there has been a growing emphasis on translating scientific discoveries to patient care, quality improvement, and improved use of healthcare resources. Experts in each area were recruited in order to identify critical issues that should be emphasized for future research. The Pediatric Gastroenterology Research Agenda is by no means an exhaustive list of all of the problems associated with gastrointestinal disease in children. Rather, it is intended to serve as an overview of key areas for further research in the field of pediatric gastroenterology.
In order to convey these needs, NASPGHAN has organized a Pediatric Gastroenterology Research Agenda that contains six key clinical categories for consideration: Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Functional and Motility Disorders, Liver Disorders, Pancreatic Disorders, Allergy, Intestinal Failure, and Infection and Nutritional Disorders.
Research Resources
Career development
Career development can take many shapes and forms. For those dedicated to an academic job that evolves into an independent research career, a variety of workshops, courses, and other resources exist to enhance individuals’ abilities to identify career goals that align with their interests and values. These resources are designed to help budding investigators identify learning and career goals; articulate skills required to achieve their goals; navigate different tracks and pathways in academic medicine; maximize mentor-mentee relationships; enhance writing and presentation skills; and strategically secure funding to complete research. Although general resources are noted here, career development resources at individual academic institutions or through other local/regional settings may also be available.
Workshops
NASPGHAN Fellows Conferences
1st, 2nd, and 3rd year fellow conferences sponsored by NASPGHAN cover a variety of career development topics for Pediatric GI Fellows
AGA-AASLD Academic Skills Workshop
Free workshop and travel grant that requires application each Fall (around September/October) and AGA or AASLD membership.
AGA Future Leaders Program
Program led by the AGA to engage and develop future leaders in gastroenterology
APS/SPR Young Investigator Program
Applications accepted in the Fall each year for this program sponsored by the Academic Pediatric Society/Society for Pediatric Research that includes a mentor-mentee program, financial support for PAS attendance, and other career development opportunities at PAS
Courses/Certificates
Clinical & Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Education and Training resources
General information on formal clinical research training awards and programs supported through CTSA funding at various institutions
Guide to Public Health
Various Public Health Schools offer a variety of options for short- and long-term research training such as certificates in clinically-oriented research or Master’s degree in Public Health
Other Resources
Academic Development Plan
Article outlining steps to take in developing career goals and plans
AGA Resources for Trainees and Young GIs
Collection of articles, slide decks, and programs to facilitate various academic skills, as well as a tool to identify mentors/advisors
Science Career Resources
From the journal Science, a variety of practical “how-to” resources on CV preparation, interviewing, funding, networking, and more.
Individualized Training Plan
Through Science Careers, exercises to examine skills are paired with information on scientific career paths and tools for strategic goal setting.
Collaborative opportunities
There are a multitude of collaborative opportunities available that could benefit your research or allow you or your patients to participate in innovative research. The information below includes websites of consortia or other groups actively engaged in clinical trials.
Clinical trials.gov
This is the primary resource for finding clinical trials it provides a strong search engine to identify clinical research projects that are currently ongoing. These results of a search here provides information on the current status of the clinical trial. All clinical trials that are looking to be published will likely be included on this site. There are over 250,000 studies on this site.
Ongoing projects
Crohns and Colitis Foundation
This site provides information not only on current clinical trials but also videos to show families about how participating in clinical trials helps
PSC Partners
This site provides information about ongoing clinical trials in Primary sclerosing cholangitis
ChiLDRen
The ChiLDReN Site has many active studies on pediatric liver diseases
Pediatric Liver Transplant consortium
This link to the Pediatric Liver Transplant consortium provides information about current initiatives
Diversity in Research Resources
This page is intended to provide resources to the membership that support efforts to expand a diverse and inclusive work force in medicine and the biomedical sciences. Resources are highlighted for members of URM groups, defined as: underrepresented racial and ethnic groups (African Americans, Mexican Americans, Mainland Puerto Ricans, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders), individuals with disabilities, individuals who identify as LGBTQ, andindividuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Funding Opportunities
National Institutes of Health
Guide to Grants and Contracts
Funding
Loan Repayment Program
Foundation Grants (each foundation has several grants)
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
• American College of Gastroenterology
• American Gastroenterological Association
• American Heart Association and American Heart Association
• American Liver Foundation
• American Pediatric Society/Society for Pediatric Research
• Association for the Advancement of the Study of Liver Disease
• Allen Foundation
• ASPEN
CEGIR Training Award Program
• Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
• Gates Foundation
• NASPGHAN Foundation
• NCCOR
• Nestle
• The Obesity Society
• PhRMA Foundation
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Smith Family Foundation
• Thrasher Foundation
Workshops
• AGA-AASLD Academic Skills Workshop
• American Pediatric Society Leadership Courses
• Academic Pediatric Association Research Scholars Program
• Academic Pediatric Association Research Scholars Program
• Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Centers
• American College of Gastroenterology/North American Conference of Gastroenterology Fellows
• Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine
Industry related resources
For example, ongoing clinical trials, subject enrollment etc. Pharmaceutical companies that are performing clinical trial will often have their own Clinical trial websites. If you proceed to the company’s website and search clinical trial you will then be able to identify clinical trial opportunities.
Examples:
http://globaltrialfinder.janssen.com
https://takedaclinicaltrials.com
https://www.shire.com/research-and-development/clinical-trials
https://www.merck.com/clinical-trials/
https://astrazenecagrouptrials.pharmacm.com/ST/Submission/Search
http://www.pfizer.com/science/clinical-trials
Mentorship
NASPGHAN
American Gastroenterological Association (AGA)
Association for the Advancement of the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD)
How to Select a Mentor as a Trainee or Junior Faculty (Gastroenterology 2016;151:17–19)
Project related resources
• Biorepositories
National Gene Vector Biorepository
NIDDK Biorepository
• Epidemiology and statistics
• Genomics/informatics/Databases
• Data management resources
RED CAP
• Regulatory information for basic, clinical and translational research/General IRB requirements/CITI course
Citiprogram
Clinical Trials Transformation
• IP/Patent related information
Journal formats
Each journal has its own format and unfortunately there is no consensus format. As you are working on writing your paper have a journal in mind. With this information you can progress to the Journal’s website to find the the tab generally identified as ”information for authors” and the journal will provide the exact format that you should follow. Straying from the format is guaranteed to increase the amount of time to having a paper published.
Manuscript preparation
How to write a research paper - Edwin De Zoeten MD, Children's Hospital of Colorado
Poster preparation templates
https://phdposters.com
http://www.posterpresentations.com/html/
Oral presentation templates
How to Give a Great Talk - Bradley Barth MD
