Child Health
Up one level
There is increasing need for expertise in the conduct of pediatric
clinical and translational research projects due to FDA pediatric
initiatives and the proliferation of NIH-funded mechanisms for
pediatric research. The need for integrated programs in children is
compounded by the scarcity of controlled studies in pediatrics;
consequently, therapeutic decisions for children are less likely to be
evidence-based than for adults.
The DTMI Child Health core will develop a coherent and integrated
program in pediatric clinical and translational research. Achieving an
effective structure for pediatric translational and clinical research
will require the expansion of specific elements in the DTMI research
infrastructure to meet the demand for conducting studies relevant for
the pediatric population.
Training is fundamental: a cadre of well-trained pediatric clinical
and translational researchers is needed. Problems unique to pediatrics,
including the effects of age and growth on drug metabolism and the need
to obtain the maximal amount of practical information from small sample
sizes, require specialized expertise.
The Child Health core will provide both the training and the
opportunity for established and newly-trained investigators to use
their skills in pediatric translational studies and clinical
research.
The mission of the Child Health core resource is to be a pioneering
pediatric academic enterprise that enhances the health of children by
fostering therapeutic discovery through collaborative clinical and
translational research.
Specific objectives of the DTMI Child Health core are to:
- Conduct pediatric clinical and translational research so
evidence-based therapeutics are available to children.
- Expand the pediatric research training and mentoring for students,
residents, pediatric fellows, and junior- and mid-career faculty, so
they can become future leaders in pediatric clinical and translational
research.
- Disseminate results of pediatric clinical and translational
research through publications and meetings so that the care of children
is improved through these study findings.
These objectives will be accomplished in the DTMI Child Health core
through the following innovative approaches:
- Developing and implementing a governance structure that encourages
the interaction of successful basic and clinical pediatric scientists
in order to achieve seamless transition from molecular discovery to
clinical practice.
- Facilitating the match between mentor, trainee, and research
project to create a seamless transition in training of students,
residents, fellows, and faculty.
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Jennifer Li, MD, MHS
Director, DTMI Child Health Core
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Instructor in the Department of Medicine
Dr. Li joined the DCRI to lead its Pediatrics Research program in
2001. After earning her medical degree from Duke University, she also
completed her pediatric cardiology and clinical research fellowships at
Duke and joined the faculty. She is currently the chief of
Cardiovascular Research in the Department of Pediatrics at Duke
University Medical Center and an associate professor of pediatrics.
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Dr. Li is the author of dozens of peer-reviewed publications on
pediatric cardiovascular disease, pediatric infectious disease, and the
use of echocardiography in pediatric patients.
Dr. Li's research and clinical interests are pediatric cardiology,
echocardiography, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
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Danny Benjamin, MD, PhD, MPH
DTMI - Child Health Core
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Dr. Benjamin completed his undergraduate degree, medical degree, and
pediatric residency at the University of Virginia. He completed
pediatric infectious disease subspecialty training at Duke University
and received a PhD in epidemiology from the University of North
Carolina. He is board certified in pediatrics and pediatric infectious
disease.
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Dr. Benjamin’s clinical and translational research interests are in
neonatal infectious disease and neonatal pharmacology. Benjamin is the
fellowship director for the DCRI: he is interested in the recruitment,
retention, and outcomes for underrepresented minority physicians.
Dr. Benjamin also holds a joint appointment as a medical officer and
special pediatric consultant to the Office of the Commissioner at the
Food and Drug Administration. He advises the Agency on improved
pediatric clinical trial design and provides programmatic advice on
government-sponsored incentives and pediatric regulation.
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Wesley Burks, Jr., MD
DTMI - Duke Clinical Research Unit (DCRU)
DTMI - Child Health Core
Professor and Chief
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
Director, Clinical Research Unit
See bio on the DTMI's
Experimental Research page
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Priya Kishnani, MD
DTMI - Child Health Core
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics
Dr. Kishnani completed her Pediatric Residency at Duke, where she
also completed her Clinical and Biochemical Genetics Fellowship. She
joined the Duke faculty in July 1995. She is certified by the American
Board of Medical Genetics and the American Board of Biochemical
Genetics.
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Dr. Kishnani’s primary focus has been the translation of laboratory
science into the clinical arena, especially in the area of such
therapeutic interventions as enzyme replacement therapy and small
molecules. The care, treatment and natural history of individuals with
Lysosomal Storage Disorders (LSDs), Glycogen Storage Diseases (GSDs),
Down Syndrome (DS) and other inborn errors of metabolism are her areas
of interest. She has a long-standing research and clinical interest in
Pompe Disease and along with Dr. Y. T. Chen was instrumental in getting
FDA approval for Myozyme, the first treatment for this disorder in
2006. In other areas of translational medicine, Dr. Kishnani has been
very involved in starting the first prescription drug trials with
cholinesterase inhibitors in individuals with Down Syndrome to enhance
cognition. Designing clinical trials for rare diseases is an area of
expertise of hers.
Dr. Kishnani is the author of several peer reviewed publications on
metabolic disorders including Glycogen Storage Diseases, Lysosomal
Storage Disorders, and Down Syndrome. Dr. Kishnani serves on the
International Pompe Disease Registry Board, US Regional Gaucher
Registry Board and is the Chairperson of the Association for Glycogen
Storage Disease. She is also a member of the Down Syndrome Medical
Interest group.
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Joseph W. St. Geme, III, MD
DTMI - Child Health Core
Professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology
Dr. St. Geme received his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences
from Stanford University and his medical degree from Harvard Medical
School. He completed a pediatric residency and chief residency at the
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
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Subsequently, he pursued postdoctoral training in microbiology and
infectious diseases at Stanford University, working in the laboratory
of Stanley Falkow and receiving clinical training at Lucile Packard
Children’s Hospital. In 1992 he joined the faculty at Washington
University School of Medicine as a member of the Departments of
Pediatrics and Molecular Microbiology. In 1998 he assumed
responsibilities as Director of the Division of Pediatric Infectious
Diseases, and in 2000 he was named Co-Leader of the Pediatrics
Infection, Immunity, and Inflammation Research Unit. In July 2005 he
relocated to Duke University Medical Center and is now Chairman of the
Department of Pediatrics.
Dr. St. Geme has an active laboratory research program that focuses
on host-pathogen interactions involving pathogenic bacteria, aiming to
identify targets for novel antimicrobials and to facilitate vaccine
development. The primary emphasis of the laboratory has been
Haemophilus influenzae, a leading cause of childhood morbidity and
mortality worldwide. Other pathogens under study include a variety of
gram-negative bacteria, including the cryptic genospecies of
Haemophilus, Kingella kingae, Neisseria spp., Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Yersinia spp., and Moraxella catarrhalis.
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Emmanuel 'Chip' Walter MD, MPH
DTMI - Child Health Core
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Dr Walter completed his undergraduate degree at the University of
Notre Dame and his doctorate in medicine and pediatric residency at the
University of Maryland. He completed a fellowship in pediatric
infectious diseases at Duke University and subsequently received a
Masters Degree in Public Health at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.
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Dr. Walter is board certified in pediatrics and has been a member of
the Duke Children’s Primary Care pediatric practice for 15 years.
Dr. Walter directs the Duke Vaccine and Infectious Diseases
Epidemiology Unit and is an associate director of the Primary Care
Research Consortium. Dr Walter’s primary research interests are related
to pediatric, adolescent, and adult immunization. In addition, he is
also a member of the North Carolina Immunization Advisory Council.
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