Annual Pediatric Early Career Researcher Conference

The Annual Pediatric Early Career Researcher Conference showcases the local clinical, basic and translational research conducted by our fellows and junior faculty at Emory and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Annual Research Conferences

Conference Program

Abstract Book

Feedback Survey 

Keynote Speaker

"Academic Alchemy: Transforming Unforeseen Paths into a Scholarly Journey"

Kristy Murray, DVM, PhD
Chief Research Officer
Executive Vice Chair for Research
Professor of Pediatrics
Emory University School of Medicine
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

2024 Clinton Joiner Career Development Awardees

Best Basic Science Oral Presentation
Antenatal Butyrate Supplementation Improves Intestinal Barrier in Neonatal Murine Offspring
Andrea Colarelli (Presenting Author) and Maria Estefania Barbian

Best Basic Science Poster Presentation
Neat1 Inhibition Alleviates the Pathology of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Kyungmin Kim (Presenting Author), Sarang Arun, Sangyoon Lee, and Hyojung Choo

Best Clinical Research Oral Presentation
Kyotorphin: A Novel Mechanism-of-action for Arginine Therapy Targeting Pain in Children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)
Rawan Korman (Presenting Author), Dunia Hatabah, Lou Ann Brown, Frank Harris, Nitya Bakshi, David R Archer, Chris A Rees, Mark A Griffiths, Laura Benedit, Carlton Dampier, and Claudia R Morris

Best Clinical Research Poster Presentation
The Association Between Peri-operative Management Strategies and Post-operative Acute Kidney Injury in Surgical Neonates
Matthew Gillen (Presenting Author), Zhulin He, Theresa Gauthier, Ravi Patel, Laurence Greenbaum, Brenda Poindexter, and H Stella Shin

Sponsored by the NICHD-supported Atlanta Pediatric Scholars Program, K12HD072245.

Program and Conference Schedule

Abstract Book

Keynote Speaker

Grace Aldrovandi, MD, CM
Professor, Pediatrics
Chief, Division of Infectious Disease
UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital

2023 Clinton Joiner Career Development Awardees

Best Basic Science Oral Presentation
Dual GD2 and PTK7 Targeted γδ T cell Immunotherapy for Neuroblastoma
Hunter Jonus (Presenting Author), Jasmine Lee, Jordan Silva, Jenny Shim, Trent Spencer, and Kelly Goldsmith

Best Basic Science Poster Presentation
Evaluation of the Immune Checkpoint Siglec-15 in Promoting Immune Dysregulation in Pediatric Lymphomas
Dailia Francis (Presenting Author), Jodi Dougan, Claire E. Pillsbury, Sunita Park, Linda N. Liu, and Christopher Porter

Best Clinical Research Oral Presentation
Are children with sickle cell disease at particular risk from the harmful effects of air pollution? Evidence from a large, urban/peri-urban cohort.
Paul George (Presenting Author), Alexander Maillis, Yijing Zhu, Yang Liu, Peter Lane, Wilbur Lam, Joseph Lipscomb, and Stefanie Ebelt

Best Clinical Research Poster Presentation
Investigating Rurality and its Association with Initiation of Childhood Cancer Survivor Care
Liberty Strange (Presenting Author), Rebecca Lewis, Xu Ji, Ann Mertens, and Karen Effinger

Sponsored by the NICHD-supported Atlanta Pediatric Scholars Program, K12HD072245.

Keynote Speaker:

Leslie S. Kean MD, PhD
Director, Stem Cell Transplantation Program
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital
Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Robert A. Stranahan Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Full Program

Recording of Keynote

 

Recipients of the Clinton Joiner Career Development Awards:

 

Best Basic Science Oral Presentation:

Multi-omics Study of Lung-recruited Pathological Neutrophils in Cystic Fibrosis ​

Cammarata-Mouchtouris, Alexandre; Moncada Giraldo, Diego; Collins, Genoah L.; Chandler, Joshua D.; and Tirouvanziam Rabindra​

Best Basic Science Poster Presentation:

IgM Drives CD4 T Cell Responses to Factor VIII in Mice​

Zerra, Patricia; Patel, Seema; McCoy, James; Parker, Ernest; Baldwin, W. Hunter; Cox, Courtney; Healey, John; Lollar, Pete; Meeks, Shannon; and Stowell, Sean​

Best Clinical & Outcomes Research Oral Presentation:

Changes In Pediatric Injuries Sustained While Engaged In Activities Where Helmet Usage Is Recommended During The COVID-19 Pandemic 

Troy, Brent; FraserDoh, Kiesha; Xiang, Yijin; Linden, Allison; and Agarwal, Maneesha​

Best Clinical & Outcomes Research Poster Presentation:

Positive Bacterial Blood Cultures and Time to Positivity in Children: Should Empiric Antibiotics be Reconsidered Sooner?​

Patel, Pratik; Locsin, Miguel; Xiang, Yijin; Lu, Lydia; Fernandez, Alfred; and Jaggi, Preeti​

Sponsored by the NICHD supported Atlanta Pediatric Scholars Program, K12HD072245
 

Keynote Presentation: “Developing a Personal Playbook for Addressing Unanswered Questions in Your Field” 

Shannon L. Meeks, MD
Pediatric Hematologist/Oncologist,
Program Medical Director of Hemostasis/Thrombosis,
Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
Professor of Pediatrics,
Emory University School of Medicine

Recording of Keynote Presentation

Photos from the event


Program Guide

Abstract Book
 

Recipients of the Clinton Joiner Career Development Awards:

Best Basic Science Oral Presentation

  • Antenatal Butyrate Supplementation Reduces Postnatal Gastrointestinal Injury in a Murine Model of Colitis 
    Barbian, Maria;
    Owens, Joshua; Naudin, Crystal; Denning, Patricia; Patel, Ravi; and Jones, Rheinallt.

Best Basic Science Poster Presentation

  • F5-Atlanta: A novel mutation in F5 associated with enhanced East Texas splicing and FV-short production
    Zimowski, Karen;
    Petrillo, Teodolinda; Ho, Michelle D;  Wechsler Julie; Shields Jordan; Denning, Gabriela Denning; Jhita, Navdeep; Rivera, Angel A; Escobar Miguel A; Kempton, Christine L; Camire, Rodney M; and Doering Christopher B.

Best Clinical & Outcomes Research Oral Presentation

  • Complement Activation during Vaso-Occlusive PainCrisis in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease 
    Yoo, Justin;
    Graciaa, Sara; Jones, Jayre; Zuo, Zoey; Arthur, Connie; Leong, Traci; Joiner, Clinton; Stowell, Sean; and Chonat, Satheesh

Best Clinical & Outcomes Research Poster Presentation

  • Feasibility of the Virtual Reality (VR) based  Pediatric Display Enhanced Testing for Cognitive Impairment (PeDETECT) and mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) tool to assess concussion in the pediatric emergency department (ED)
    Grell, Robert;
    LaPlaca, Michelle; Wright, David; Simon, Harold K.; Yu, Austin; Hurley, Dylan; Murthy, Naina; Kulkarni, Megha; Santos, Justin; Sarnaik, Avnee; Waldon, Emma; Zafar, Farzina; Egbosiuba, Maureen; and Morris, Claudia R

 

Sponsored by the NICHD supported Atlanta Pediatric Scholars Program, K12HD072245

Materials from the August 4, 2020 Pediatric Research and Career Development Symposium where we showcased the local clinical, basic and translational research conducted by our fellows and junior faculty.

Post Survey Link

Recording of Morning Clinical Research Session

Recording of Key Note and Basic Science Session

Program/Detailed Agenda

Abstract Book

Clinical Posters and Zoom Room Links (11:20 am - 12:20 am)

Basic Science Posters and Zoom Room Links (3:15 pm to 4:00 pm)

Directory of Participants

Oral and Poster Award Winners

Agenda Overview:

9 am to 12:30 pm— Clinical Research Poster & Oral Presentations

12:30 pm to 1:30 pm—Key Note Speaker- Ann Chahroudi, MD, PhD, Director, Center for Childhood Infections & Vaccines, Pediatric Infectious Disease Specialist, Emory Healthcare, Associate Professor, Infectious Disease, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine

"My path as a pediatric physician scientist: the tortoise and the hare"

1:30 pm to 4:15 pm —  Basic Science Research Poster &  Oral Presentations

Sponsored by the NICHD supported Atlanta Pediatric Scholars Program, K12HD072245

Special Keynote Speaker:
“Reflections on a Career in Pediatric HIV/AIDS:  From America to Africa and Back Again”

Mark W. Kline, M.D.
Physician-in-Chief
Texas Children’s Hospital

J.S. Abercrombie Professor and Chairman
Ralph D. Feigin Endowed Chair
Department of Pediatrics
Baylor College of Medicine

Agenda

Oral Presenter Biographical Sketches

Abstract Book
 

Recording of the Oral and Keynote Presentations

 

Sponsored by the NICHD supported Atlanta Pediatric Scholars Program, K12HD072245