Research Career Development & Education
- About Us
- Our Services
- Our Impact
Facilitating Life-Changing Clinical & Translational Research
The Nemours Children’s Research Career Development & Education program is dedicated to advancing leading-edge clinical and translational research that translates fundamental scientific discoveries into practical applications to enhance children’s health.
We cultivate the next generation of researchers with an array of mentoring, education, networking, and targeted support initiatives. Our programs are designed to lessen the administrative burden on junior faculty while enhancing their research capabilities, and ability to publish high impact research articles. We also support exceptional training opportunities for students and research trainees working with our research faculty.
Our team facilitates mentored research development awards, allowing researchers to dedicate more time to grant writing and submission. We also foster peer networks, provide rigorous mentor training based on evidence-based practices, offer essential tools and coaching interactions, refine grant writing and presentation skills, and more. Our educational programs help support undergraduate students, graduate students, medical students, and other research trainees to increase the pediatric research workforce.
Our initiatives have improved research productivity, independence, and collaboration. Scientists involved in our program are highly successful in securing funding, expanding publication opportunities, and developing valuable partnerships.
Advancing Research: By the Numbers
We provide robust, effective professional development programming and resources that grows a competitive research faculty. Our numbers prove it.
25
Private foundation and federal grants acquired
$9 million
Return in NIH grants on $1.9 million investment
18
NIH IDeA pilot grants awarded
90%
Satisfaction rating by researcher participants
Our research development program provides clinicians with customized pathways to become successful investigators while maintaining their medical practice.
We've pioneered an innovative peer networking model that fosters organic collaboration and mentorship opportunities across pediatric specialties.
Our program builds sustainable research careers with a self-reinforcing cycle of research excellence and leadership.
We bridge institutional boundaries through strategic partnerships with multiple universities and health care systems, creating a robust regional ecosystem for pediatric research innovation.
Our Leadership
Robert E. Akins, PhD
Executive Director, Research Career Development & Education
Principal Scientist
Erin Riegel, MBA
Program Administrator
Michelle Stofa
Manager, Editorial Services
Melodie Gerry
Manager, Research Education Operations
Melissa Alderfer, PhD
Chair, ACCEL Mentoring Oversite Committee
Director, Mentored Research Development Awards
Alejandra Perez Ramire
Program Evaluator
Research Mentors
Our research mentors are experienced investigators who guide early-career researchers in developing competitive grant applications, conducting impactful studies, and building successful research careers.
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Carissa M. Baker-Smith, MD, MPH
Cardiologist Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE
Making Research Happen
Dr. Thao Lyn Phan, Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Thomas Jefferson University, weight management physician at Nemours, and, with the help of our team, a research scientist.
Learn how she excelled from fellow to investigator with our program.
Accelerating Research Careers
We help investigators create impactful programs and gain sustained, independent external funding. We provide connections and resources to make it easier to initiate and conduct meaningful pediatric research. Key activities and programs include:
Investigator Support
- Mentored Research Development Awards (MRDAs) with protected time and mentoring to develop and submit competitive grant applications.
- Purchase equipment or database access through our program for faculty starting new research (FASTAR).
- Junior Investigators Network (JIN) to facilitate peer mentoring and collaboration among early career researchers.
- Pathways to Success programs that include self-guided tools and short-term coaching for guidance on processes and procedures.
- Networking and mentoring opportunities through peer subgroups within JIN, tailored to specific research interests.
- Programs to enhance grant writing skills, provide proposal reviews and strengthen competitiveness.
- Editorial services to support the preparation and submission of presentations and manuscripts.
Training & Mentoring
- Mentor training based on evidenced-based approaches from the Center for Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research best practices.
- Focus on supporting diversity, equity and inclusion mentoring and professional development activities.
- Undergraduate and graduate research programs that build on decades of experience.
- Research connections for graduate students and medical trainees.
Collaborations
We establish collaboration with other IDeA programs to synergistically support translational, preclinical, and clinical research.
Expanding Research Reach & Impact
Dr. AnneMarie Brescia is studying juvenile idiopathic arthritis, a painful autoimmune condition that affects approximately 1 in 1,000 children.
JIA can lead to long-term disability if not properly treated. Our team helped her expand her research, and impact, so that more kids can benefit. See how.
Research Support Ecosystem
Core Funding Programs
In the Delaware Valley, faculty development is supported through three major external grants.
Institutional Development Award (IDeA) States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network | Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) — A program supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Purpose: To advance multisite pediatric clinical research across IDeA states to improve child health outcomes.
Delaware Clinical and Translational Research (CTR) ACCEL Program| Accelerating Clinical and Translational Research
Purpose: To support development of clinical and translational researchers through mentorship and resources.
Delaware IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) | Delaware's Biomedical Research Catalyst
Purpose: To building research capacity and foster collaboration across Delaware institutions.
External Partners
Moving beyond our walls, we collaborate with scientific leaders from other institutions. This expands our reach and advances innovation for the collective good of children everywhere. We currently work with:
- ChristianaCare, Wilmington, Del. Susan Birkhoff, Ph.D, RN and Lee Pachter, DO
- Delaware State University, Dover, Del. R. Christopher Mason, PhD and Jarid Goodman, PhD
- University of Delaware, Newark, Del. Amy Griffin, PhD and Molly Sutherland, PhD
Research Success & Impact
Our program has demonstrable impacts on grant acquisition and research productivity. In fact, we have helped:
- Provide 43 Mentored Research Development Awards (MRDA) to 39 scholars.
- Increase the number of practicing Nemours Children's Clinicians receiving pilot grant funding. For example, in the first 15 years of the INBRE pilot program in Delaware, only one Nemours clinician received an award. Since 2019, there have been eight more.
- Gain high satisfaction ratings for activities and resources based on surveys and focus groups. Over 90% find offerings having a positive impact on careers and research development.
- Institutionalize successful programs and approaches at Nemours.
- Support publications and presentations from investigators.
- Assist investigators to gain independence and independent NIH funding.
- Submit grants as principal investigators (PI) or co-PI on collaborative team science projects by former MRDA scholars. Learn more.
- Mentor and develop MRDA scholars, helping them become mentors themselves.
- Assist in attaining leadership roles including participating in NIH study sections.
Pathways to Research Success
See how we work with investigators.
Dr. Carissa Baker-Smith shares her positive journey with the Research Career Development & Education program.
Clinical Trials & Research Studies at Nemours
Pediatric clinical trials and research studies are important for advancing medical knowledge and improving care for kids around the world. Our researchers lead clinical research to study new drugs, treatments, devices and techniques. We also contribute to national registries and collaboratives to further research in this area. Find a clinical trial or study now.