and Kate Westmoreland, MD
Peyton Thompson, MD, MSCR, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the division of Infectious Diseases, and Kate Westmoreland, MD, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the division of Hematology-Oncology, have both received Caregivers at Carolina Research Awards.
Dr. Thompson’s research interests focus broadly on the promotion of infant health in low-resource areas through vaccination, with a particular interest in hepatitis B. During her fellowship, she worked with Steve Meshnick and Jonathan Parr on the AVERT-HBV study, which builds upon the existing HIV PMTCT framework in the DRC to screen and treat pregnant women for hepatitis B in order to prevent vertical transmission of hepatitis B. This study has since led to several other studies of hepatitis B transmission and prevention.
Dr. Westmoreland’s research focuses on conducting clinical research in pediatric and adolescent patients with Burkitt Lymphoma and Hodgkin Lymphoma in low resource settings. In particular, she is focused on clinical trial design and pharmacokinetics to generate data to support standardized treatment approaches and optimal dosing for common chemotherapy agents in sub-Saharan Africa, including a Methotrexate dose escalation phase I clinical trial for adolescents and young adult patients with Burkitt Lymphoma in Malawi. Dr. Westmoreland collaborates in her work with colleagues at UNC Project-Malawi, the Eshelman School of Pharmacy and the Gillings School of Global Public Health. Her ongoing research goals are to lead future clinical trials to optimize chemotherapy dosing and improve survival and quality of life for children and adolescents with cancer in sub-Saharan Africa.
The goal of the Caregivers at Carolina (“Caregivers”) program is to support the retention of junior physician scientists facing substantial caregiving responsibilities by developing not only new sustainable initiatives but also leveraging and integrating existing programs, resources, and opportunities. The program provides supplemental research funding to physician scientists to support a research technician or buy-out of one day of clinical time.