Neonatology Fellowship Research Curriculum

The primary goal of the research component of the fellowship program is high quality, in-depth scholarly activity that lays the foundation for a career in academic medicine.  Fellows have broad opportunities to pursue a research project in basic science, clinical, or translational with a faculty mentor located either in The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (one of the nation’s ten largest free-standing pediatric research centers) or on the campus of The Ohio State College of Medicine (including the Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute).

Additional research opportunities include:

NICHD Neonatal Network- Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of 16 sites that participate in the network and clinical trials are always ongoing. The network has been internationally recognized for findings that have led to significant advances in neonatal patient care.

Vermont Oxford Network- Nationwide Children’s Hospital is actively involved in the Vermont Oxford Network database. This network is active in measuring comparative clinical outcomes and collecting data on all neonates weighing less than 1,500 grams at birth at many institutions throughout the world.

Ohio Perinatal Research Network- The division of neonatology runs the Ohio Perinatal Research Network. Through this network data and biospecimens are collected on patients less than 1500 grams for research study and analysis.

It is understood that fellows entering the program may have different levels of research experience; therefore, all fellows are given a structured timeline and support from the research subcommittee* to ensure success.

Timeline for Neonatal Fellow Research

Year 1

July: 

• 1st meeting with research subcommittee

• Identify clinical and/or research interests of fellow

• Introduce fellow to candidate mentors

August-October:

• Fellow will identify potential mentors/research groups

• Rotations in labs of candidate mentors

November-December:

• Fellow will declare identity of mentor to committee

• Formation of Scholarly Oversight Committee (SOC)

January-April:

• Identify research project

• Create basic hypothesis of research project

• 1st SOC meeting (January)

April-June:

• Present background & hypothesis at neonatal works-in-progress seminar

• 2nd SOC meeting (June)

Year 2

July-December:

• Conduct studies in laboratory of research mentor

• Attend Mead-Johnson regional research meeting

• Submit abstract to national meeting

• 3rd SOC meeting (December)

January-June:

• Conduct studies in laboratory of research mentor

• Participate in OSU/NCH research day activities

• Attend national meeting

• Present background, hypothesis, and preliminary data at neonatal works-in-progress seminar

• 4th SOC meeting (June)

Year 3

July-December:

• Complete studies in laboratory of research mentor

• Submit abstract to national meeting

• 5rd SOC meeting (December)

January-June:

• Conduct studies in laboratory of research mentor

• Participate in OSU/NCH research day activities

• Attend national meeting

• Present completed research project at neonatal works-in-progress seminar

• 6th SOC meeting (June) to sign off on completed research project

During the 3 years of fellowship, all fellows will:

• Attend grantsmanship workshop offered by The Research Institute

• Complete Ethics in Research workshop offered by The Research Institute

*Responsibilities of Research Subcommittee

1. Facilitate successful placement of fellow in laboratory of appropriate and suitable mentor.

2. Oversee formation of SOC (one research subcommittee member will serve on SOC for each fellow).

3. Mediate any disputes between mentor and mentee and facilitate identification of new mentor (if applicable).

4. Facilitate identification of new suitable mentor should fellow’s initial mentor leave the institution.

5. Report progress of each fellow to Fellowship committee.