Current Studies

Principal Investigator: H. Gerry Taylor, PhD, ABPP

Co-Investigator: Nathalie Maitre, MD, PhD

The PREPS study is designed to help us learn about school readiness in four-year-old children born preterm. School readiness includes areas such as health and physical development, social-emotional adjustment, approaches to learning, and general knowledge and cognition. While we know that many children born preterm are at higher risk for weaknesses in these areas during the preschool years, we know little about the neural basis of these weaknesses or how they relate to the child’s ability to transition to kindergarten. Using neuropsychological assessments, event-related potential (ERP) imaging, and parent reports, we aim to learn more about school readiness and factors that may predict academic achievement in this vulnerable group.

Principal Investigator: H. Gerry Taylor, PhD, ABPP

Co-Investigators: Eric Nelson, PhD; Kristen Hoskinson, PhD; Dr. Christopher Timan, MD

The SOPA (Social Outcomes in Preterm Adolescents) study is designed to explore the effects of preterm birth on adolescent social development. While children with very preterm birth tend to have difficulties with emotional and cognitive functions when they are young, little is known about how this population functions during the adolescent years. The SOPA study assesses emotional and social functioning, and the brain mechanisms that support these processes in very preterm adolescents compared to adolescents born at term. The study involves neuropsychological assessments, child and parent questionnaires, and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session.

Principal Investigator: Marlina Lovett, MD

Co-Investigators: Nicole O’Brien, MD; Dr. Tensing Maa, MD, FAAP; Adam Ostendorf, MD; Dr. Melissa Chung, MD; Mark Hall, MD; H. Gerry Taylor, PhD, ABPP

The NDOSS study is designed to determine the effects of septic shock on brain and behavior. Studies have shown that septic shock can put patients at high risk of brain injury, but little is known about long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of children with this condition. This study uses neuropsychological assessments, child and parent reports, transcranial Doppler ultrasound, and biomarker data to better inform our understanding of neurodevelopmental outcomes of septic shock.

Principal Investigators: Christine H. Koterba, PhD, ABPP; Jennifer Lundine, PhD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS

Co-Investigator: H. Gerry Taylor, PhD, ABPP

The Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Rehab Outcomes Study is designed to help us understand long-term outcomes for children who suffer a moderate to severe TBI. This study utilizes parent and child reports to gather information about quality of life, unmet needs, and emotional, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes in recovering patients.

Principal Investigator: H. Gerry Taylor, PhD, ABPP

Co-Investigators: Eric Nelson, PhD; Nathalie Maitre, MD, PhD

The BRAINY Pilot is a study of neurological and neurodevelopmental outcomes to neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). HIE is associated with brain injury and neurodevelopmental impairments, but little is known about the extent of these effects or about factors related to the longer-term effects of HIE. This study utilizes neuropsychological testing, parent and child report, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help us learn more about neurodevelopment after HIE at birth.

Principal Investigator: Jiabin Shen, PhD

Mentors: H. Gerry Taylor, PhD, ABPP, Keith Yeates, PhD, ABPP/CN, Dr. Roger Crawfis, PhD

The VR TBI study is designed to evaluate the feasibility of a virtual reality-based cognitive training program for the rehabilitation of executive functions among children with traumatic brain injuries. Research has shown that children’s brains, especially the prefrontal cortex in charge of executive functions, are particularly vulnerable to traumatic brain injuries. This study aims to examine the patient experience and protocol feasibility of a novel VR application in both inpatient and outpatient pediatric settings. Longer-term projects goals are to examine the efficacy of this intervention in improving children’s three core executive functions (i.e., inhibitory control, working memory, and cognitive flexibility) using mixed methods of both performance-based and report-based assessment.

Principal Investigators: Sean Rose, MD

Co-Investigator: Kelly McNally, PhD, ABPP; Zeynep Saygin, PhD (with assistance from the Taylor Lab)

The purpose of the C-STEP study is to determine if cognitive behavioral therapy improves recovery in individuals with persistent symptoms after a concussion. Previous studies have shown promise in treating pediatric concussion with psychological and behavioral interventions. This study will examine the efficacy of a structured cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and exercise intervention for treatment in a Complex Concussion Clinic. Participants complete questionnaires, wear activity trackers, complete brain imaging, and complete cognitive testing.

Principal Investigator: Christine Koterba, PhD, ABPP

Co-Investigator: Jiabin Shen, PhD (with assistance from the Taylor Lab)

The purpose of the PBI study is to learn about what parents and caregivers need to better care for children with brain injuries. Parents complete surveys while their child is in the hospital, after they’ve been discharged, and 2-3 months after they’ve been discharged. Parents are enrolled in an educational program that teaches them about brain injuries and what children with a brain injury need to get better.

Principal Investigator: Christine Koterba, PhD, ABPP

Co-Investigator: Jennifer Lundine, PhD, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS (with assistance from the Taylor Lab)

The EMS Study aims to gather information from caregivers and medical providers of children with a traumatic brain injury. This study asks caregivers and care providers about their parent and clinical experiences with health care and school systems, and how they think overall care for children who experience a TBI can be improved. Participants complete interviews and take part in focus groups.

Principal Investigator: Tensing Maa, MD

Co-Investigator: Jiabin Shen, PhD

Implicit attitudes play an important role in the verbal and behavioral interactions between healthcare providers and pediatric patients. Implicit bias has been found as prevalent among healthcare professionals as that among the wider population, and significantly associated with lower quality of care. The goal of the study was to develop and evaluate preliminary efficacy of an innovative mobile Virtual and Augmented Reality-based Implicit Association Training (VARIAT) application for Medicaid providers caring for pediatric patients. Developed by an interdisciplinary team with expertise in simulation training, critical care, cognitive psychology, rehabilitation science, and social work, the VARIAT program provides six spaced training scenarios with a focus on implicit bias related to socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity using a mixture of virtual and augmented reality technologies available on a typical mobile device.