Promoting Early-Stage Pediatric Researchers Through a National, Topic-Focused Research Network

Authors

• D McCulley
• J Longo
• L Juttukonda
• J Wu
• S Haskell
• Neal Blatt, Corewell Health East
• S Davis
• D Hunstad
• M Gill
• A Hamvas
• L Gianinni
• B Hammond
• M Brunoehler
• J Millard

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

2-2026

Publication Title

American Journal of the Medical Sciences

Abstract

Purpose: Building and sustaining a successful pediatric research career is a major challenge for individual investigators and academic pediatric programs. To address this challenge, the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) and Midwest SPR developed a national Research Cohort Network Pilot Project. We aimed to facilitate networking among pediatric fellows and early faculty who conduct research within specific research topics. Fellows and early-career faculty enrolled were grouped according to their research topic and met monthly with 2 topic experts over 6-8 months. Cohort meetings included research presentations and career development discussions. Now in its third iteration, cohorts cover neonatal nutrition and growth, lung biology, neurological development and disease, human genetics and genomics, pediatric immunology, nephrology, and health services research. In this study we investigated the response to the program by surveying cohort participants and leaders. Methods: Surveys were conducted prior to and after each series of cohort meetings. Pre-meeting surveys investigated the motivations of participants to enroll and their previous access to research career development. Post-meeting surveys investigated the ability to facilitate networking, benefits/limitations, and if participants would recommend this program to others. Results: Pre-meeting survey results show participants want to network with early-stage investigators at a similar career stage working on the same topic. The most common reasons for applying were to learn about topic-focused career development (73%), networking (56%), and specific feedback about their work (53%). Post-meeting survey results demonstrate that the program was worthwhile (100%) and would be recommended to colleagues/trainees (100%). The most common benefits were the opportunity to receive detailed suggestions about their work (78%) and stage-specific suggestions for career development (68%). The most common challenges were meeting scheduling (54%). Conclusions: The Regional and National SPR Research Cohort Program has been positively reviewed by participants and topic cohort group leaders. Focusing on early-stage investigators and organizing cohorts based on research topics enabled participants to receive detailed suggestions and develop connections with colleagues within their field. Whether this program can grow sustainably, facilitate lasting collaborative research connections, and promote successful pediatric research careers remains an open question.

Volume

371

Issue

Suppl 1

First Page

S454

Comments

Southern Society for Clinical Investigation 2026 Southern Regional Meetings, February 26-28, 2026, New Orleans, LA.  and   97th Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting, April 24-27, 2026, Boston, MA

Last Page

S454

Recommended Citation

McCulley D, Longo J, Juttukonda L, Wu J, Haskell S, Blatt N, et al. Promoting early-stage pediatric researchers through a national, topic-focused research network. Am J Med Sci. 2026 Feb;371(Suppl 1):S454. doi:10.1016/j.amjms.2025.12.727. and Juttukonda L, Longo J, Wu J, Haskell S, Blatt NB, Davis S, et al. Promoting early-career pediatric researchers through a national, topic-focused research network. Presented at: 97th Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting; 2026 Apr 24-27; Boston, MA. Available from:https://2026.pas-meeting.org

DOI

10.1016/j.amjms.2025.12.727