Pediatric Research Day 2025 Celebrates Collaboration, Discovery and the Future of Child Health

On October 7, the CU Anschutz Department of Pediatrics, Colorado Child Health Research Institute (CCHRI) and Adult & Child Center for Outcomes Research & Delivery Science (ACCORDS) hosted the second annual Pediatric Research Day. The event brought together over 150 faculty, trainees and staff to celebrate the department’s research excellence and collaborative spirit.

Opening Remarks and Keynote

The afternoon began with a warm welcome from Charles Sagerström, PhD, vice chair for basic science research, Department of Pediatrics (DOP), Stephen Daniels, MD, PhD, chair of the DOP; Jena Hausmann, CEO of Children’s Hospital Colorado; and Ron Sokol, MD, chief scientific officer for child health. Their remarks emphasized the commitment to innovation, mentorship and improving outcomes for children locally and globally.

The keynote address, titled “A Research Journey: Thick Skin, Sleeves Rolled Up & Enduring Conviction,” was delivered by Nancy Krebs, MD, MS, distinguished professor in the Section of Nutrition and associate vice chair for academic affairs, DOP. Dr. Krebs shared insights from her decades-long career in translational nutrition research, spanning from Denver to low-resource settings across four continents. Her work has shaped global guidelines on micronutrient requirements and has been supported by the NIH, the Gates Foundation, and other major funders.

Collaboration Panel and Flash Talks

A dynamic Collaboration Panel, moderated by Jerica Berge, PhD, MPH, LMFT, CFLE, ACCORDS director and tenured professor, Department of Family Medicine, featured interdisciplinary voices from pediatrics, psychiatry, radiology, nursing and public health. Panelists discussed strategies for building effective research teams, fostering equity and translating science into practice.

Later in the afternoon, four early-career researchers delivered Research Flash Talks, highlighting cutting-edge work on topics ranging from neonatal meningitis to cystic fibrosis treatment outcomes. Presenters included:

• Sol “Sophia” Kim, BS, Graduate Student, Section of Developmental Biology – "Meningeal Cell Contributions in Neonatal Bacterial Meningitis"
• Dean Oldham, MS, Graduate Student in Integrated Physiology, Section of Neonatology – "Fetal Hepatic Effects of In Utero Metformin Exposure"
• Angela Metcalf, MD, 3rd Year Fellow, Section of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine – "CFTR Modulator Impact on Sweat Chloride Ratios"
• Isabelle Dagher, MD, 3rd Year Fellow, Section of Critical Care Medicine – "Surveillance Cultures in Pediatric ECMO/CRRT Patients"

Awards and Recognition

The event also honored outstanding contributions to pediatric research:

• Early-Stage Investigator Award: Allison Shapiro, PhD, MPH
• Research Mentor Award: Glenn Furuta, MD
• Team Science Award: eXtraordinarY Kids Research Team
• Research Staff Awards: Christy Hires, MPH, CHES and Hannah Mesi, MPH, CHES

Closing and Poster Session

Kristen Nadeau, MD, MS, vice chair for clinical and translational research, DOP, offered closing remarks, thanking the planning committee and encouraging continued collaboration across disciplines.

The day concluded with the Collaboration Café and Poster Session, where attendees explored approximately 30 research posters and connected with representatives from CCHRI, ACCORDS and the Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (CCTSI) to learn more about available research resources and support. See more photos of the day's events.