Impact on Patient Care
Research at Cincinnati Children's directly translates into tangible improvements in patient care. By generating novel evidence, the division has established best practices for early recognition and intervention in critical conditions. Significant achievements include enhanced safety in rapid sequence intubation, improved pediatric resuscitation processes and increased survival rates for children with sepsis.
The research has led to augmented screening for mental health conditions, improved risk stratification for traumatic brain injury, better detection of sexually transmitted infections in adolescents and enhanced understanding of anaphylaxis. Moreover, innovative training techniques ensure that trainees—including fellows, residents, students and emergency medical services staff—are optimally prepared to provide the highest quality of care.
Collaborative Research Networks
We are active members and hold leadership roles in these and other leading research networks:
- Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN): Cincinnati Children's is the regional nodal center for the Hospitals of Midwest Emergency Research Node (HOMERuN) and partners with Cincinnati Fire Department at the nodal Emergency Medicine Services Affiliate and St Louis Children’s Hospital and Milwaukee Children’s Hospital EDs. This HRSA-supported network performs multi-institutional research on the management of acute illness and injuries in children across the emergency healthcare continuum.
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine Collaborative Research Committee (PEMCRC): Cincinnati Children's faculty play a key role in this American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Emergency Medicine subcommittee, addressing important gaps in PEM through multicenter investigations with more than 40 active sites.
- Pediatric Emergency Research Networks (PERN): Participating in global research efforts to improve emergency care for children worldwide.
- Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes (IPSO): Collaborating to enhance sepsis recognition and treatment.
- Videography In Pediatric Emergency Resuscitation (VIPER) Collaborative: A multisite research group in pediatric EDs utilizes video recording for quality assurance and as a data source to evaluate resuscitation processes and test interventions.
- pediRES-Q: Multicenter pediatric resuscitation quality collaborative which aims to sustain discovery, analysis and publication of medical science leading to evidence-based CPR guidelines and improved survival for children.
- National Emergency Airway Registry for Pediatric Emergency Medicine (NEAR4PEM): Multicenter collaboration to advance meaningful change in pediatric emergent airway management and improve patient outcomes.
- Association of Pediatric Program Directors Longitudinal Educational Assessment Research Network (APPD LEARN): Research network with the mission to conduct meaningful educational research that advances the training of future pediatricians by developing and promoting participation and collaboration in research by program directors for the purpose of improving the health and well-being of children.
State-of-the-Art Research Infrastructure
Cincinnati Children's boasts a comprehensive research infrastructure that supports cutting-edge medical investigations. The division is staffed with dedicated clinical research coordinators, research supervisors, financial and data analysts and biostatisticians who work seven days a week. Advanced data analytics capabilities, video-based data collection systems and high-fidelity simulation labs provide robust support for diverse research initiatives.
Community engagement is a priority, with research participant advisory groups and community participatory methods ensuring that research remains patient-centered and inclusive. Collaboration with the Cincinnati Children's Translational Science Translation (CCTST) further enhances research design, grant writing and regulatory compliance.
Education and Training
We are committed to nurturing the next generation of pediatric emergency medicine leaders through our comprehensive fellowship program. This program includes a structured research curriculum, robust mentorship for successful scholarly projects, and opportunities to pursue graduate degrees or certificates at the University of Cincinnati in Epidemiology, Medical Education, and Public Health.
For over 30 years, we have trained Pediatric and Emergency Medicine trainees from the U.S. and abroad to become clinical, research, and administrative leaders in North America. We also provide support for junior faculty with a research focus through a dedicated track, a career development committee with experienced mentors, internal funding, and expert guidance in research design and statistical analysis.
Led by PEM faculty doctors Gary Geis, MD and Ben Kerrey, MD, the Cincinnati Children's Center for Simulation and Research advances patient care and safety through innovative, simulation-based education, research and teamwork.
Future Directions
Looking ahead, our research is focused on several key goals. We aim to expand patient engagement by enhancing recruitment efforts at the Liberty campus and developing innovative remote strategies to reach diverse and underserved populations. By leveraging advanced technologies and integrating electronic health records, we seek to improve research efficiency, enhance participant engagement and broaden the scope of our studies.
Deepening collaborations with research networks and other specialties remains a priority to enable impactful multicenter studies and address health disparities in pediatric emergency care. Additionally, we plan to advance simulation-based research and training to optimize emergency care systems and address complex pediatric health challenges.
Finally, we are committed to aligning our research initiatives with divisional, hospital, community and national priorities to ensure maximum impact and relevance.
Funding
Our research is generously supported by internal and external grants, averaging $4 million annually. Major funders include the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) which together provide approximately 90% of our funding. Private foundations and other non-federal sources contribute the remaining 10%.
The availability of institutional and divisional grants fosters pilot projects, while the Cincinnati Children's Emergency Medicine endowment offers modest support to advance our academic mission of improving outcomes for acutely ill and injured children.
Join Our Mission
Your support can help us close critical evidence gaps, develop cutting-edge interventions and expand our research capabilities. By contributing to our work, you'll be part of groundbreaking advancements in pediatric emergency care that impact children's lives around the globe.
