Congratulations to Corinne Keet, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Allergy/Immunology, and Vice Chair of Clinical and Translational Research, and Peyton Thompson, MD, MSCR,
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Infectious Diseases, on their election to membership in the Society of Pediatric Research (SPR).

The Society for Pediatric Research encourages and supports pediatric research endeavors by creating a multi-disciplinary network of diverse researchers to improve child health. Collaboration among SPR members creates meaningful progress for the future of children’s health. Active Members are independent researchers conducting hypothesis-driven research in a field related to pediatrics that have been nominated and seconded by SPR members and approved by SPR Council.

Congratulations Corinne and Peyton!

A clinical study led by Edwin Kim, MD, at the UNC School of Medicine, showed how Peanut Sublingual Immunotherapy (Peanut SLIT) is safe and effective in children ranging from 1-to-4 years of age. Remission of peanut allergy was also possible after three months of stopping the treatment.

Camilia Kamoun, MD, MSME, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology, has been nominated to participate in the APS SPR Journeys & Frontiers in Pediatric Research program for 2023-2024.

UNC School of Medicine’s Jane Little, MD, director of the UNC Comprehensive Sickle Cell Disease program, and Maria Boucher, MD, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist and director of the Pediatric Sickle Cell program, detail the current struggles of patients with sickle cell disease and how we can help.

UNC Research recently published a feature on Dr. Jennifer Law and the Turner Syndrome research at UNC. In the ‘Endeavors’ article, “Hope for “Butterflies”, we learn more about how the UNC Turner Syndrome Clinic provides multidisciplinary care to improve the lives of patients, also known as “butterflies.”

This RTI/UNC-Chapel Hill collaboration will be the first US study offering genome sequencing and genetic risk scores for type 1 diabetes statewide. UNC School of Medicine leads are Cynthia Powell, MD and Jennifer Law, MD in Pediatrics. Early Check, a groundbreaking research study that provides free health tests to newborns up to four weeks old in North Carolina, will begin offering genome sequencing to screen for hundreds of childhood-onset genetic conditions and assess a newborn’s risk of developing type 1 diabetes in their lifetime. Enrollment for the expanded study is expected to begin Thursday, Sept. 28.

A phase 2 study, led by Thomas W. Ferkol, MD, at the UNC School of Medicine, demonstrates safety and efficacy of idrevloride with hypertonic saline for treatment of primary ciliary dyskinesia, a rare genetic disorder that can lead to permanent lung damage.

Dr. Colin Orr, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in General Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, received a K23 Career Development Award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), a part of the United States National Institutes of Health. Dr. Orr’s funded project is titled “Understanding and Addressing Food Insecurity and Obesity Among Infant-Parent Dyads.”

Investigators in Pediatric Pulmonology at UNC Children’s are playing key roles in the study and treatment of Cystic Fibrosis (CF). According to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the current life expectancy for CF patients born between 2017 and 2021 is 53 years — a substantial change from just 10 years ago when the life expectancy was 38. These incredible improvements in the lives of children and adults with CF have been possible through years of laboratory and translational research at UNC and medical centers around the world. At UNC Children’s, clinical trials that test potential drugs and therapies in people with CF are a fundamental part of CF research and care.

Dr. Melissa Bauserman, Associate Professor of Pediatrics in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, and her team recently received notice of renewal for the funding in support of the University of North Carolina-Kinshasa School of Public Health Research Partnership in the Democratic Republic of Congo; a Model for Improving Women’s and Children’s Health Through Research. The total award is for over $3 million: approximately $500,000 per year for 7 years. This is a renewal of UNC as a research site for the NICHD Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research project. For this ongoing research, UNC is in partnership with the Kinshasa School of Public Health.