PABI Plan - The Sarah Jane Brain Project

C. Research Support. List selected ongoing or completed (during the last three years) research projects (federal
and non-federal support). Begin with the projects that are most relevant to the research proposed in this
application. Briefly indicate the overall goals of the projects and your role (e.g. PI, Co-Investigator, Consultant) in
the research project. Do not list award amounts or percent effort in projects.
1K23HD43843-0 4/1/2003- 3/31/2010, currently in a no-cost extension
NIH
Using Biochemical Markers to Detect Abusive Head Trauma
Abusive head trauma is the leading cause of head injury in infants. Proper diagnosis of abusive head trauma is difficult
because patients often present without a history of trauma, with non-specific signs and symptoms and/or with a normal
physical examination. Biochemical markers of brain injury are released from the brain after injury and diffuse into the
cerebrospinal fluid and/or serum where their concentration can be measured. The goals of this project are 1) to determine
whether measuring the concentration of several of these cerebrospinal fluid and serum markers could be used as a
screening test for abusive head trauma and 2) to measure serum biomarker concentrations after non-traumatic neurologic
insults such as meningitis and seizures.
Role: PI
R49/CCR323155-01 9/1/03-8/30/09
CDC
University of Pittsburgh
Center for Injury Research and Control (CIRCL)
Center Grant
Improving the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Inflicted Head Trauma in Infants
This is a prospective study of biochemical markers of brain injury in children at increased risk of inflicted head injury. This
study includes long-term follow up of enrolled children to improve assessment of the sensitivity and specificity of
biomarkers of brain injury.
Role: Co-Investigator
Overlap
There is some scientific overlap between the K23 and the above grant. The above grant provides additional funding for a
research nurse and laboratory technician
1U49CE001 274-01 10/1/2007-9/30/2010
CDC
Pennsylvania Abusive Head Trauma Prevention Program
The goal of this project is to assess the effectiveness of an education program in decreasing the incidence of abusive
head trauma in Pennsylvania. As part of the program, a video about abusive head trauma is shown to all mothers (and
many fathers) of infants born in any birthing hospital in Pennsylvania. The incidence of abusive head trauma is being
tracked through ChildLine, the Pennsylvania-state registry for child abuse cases.
Role: Co-investigator
UL1 RR024153 12/1/2007-12/30/2009
Pediatric Clinical and Translational Research Center
Using a Blood Test and a Clinical Decision rule to Identify Brain Injury in Infants
This grant funds the head CTs for the subjects enrolled in a study entitled ‘Novel Approaches to Screening for Inflicted
Childhood Neurotrauma.’ This study evaluates the use of serum biomarkers and a clinical decision rule to screen for
inflicted childhood neurotrauma in the emergency department. The study also uses multiplex bead technology to evaluate
and screen for additional biomarkers which may be useful as part of a biomarker screening panel.
Role: PI
W81XWH- 07-0701 1/1/08-11/30/09
Biomarkers: Evaluating and Treating Acute and Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury
U.S. Army
The purpose of this grant is to establish a military and civilian network: The Collaborative Brain Injury Biomarkers
Development Network (CBBDN), with the goal of this system being to evaluate and identify and validate sensitive and
effective biomarkers that possess a high potential for diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring in the acute and
post-acute phase after traumatic brain injury. As part of this grant we will be establishing and utilizing both clinical and
preclinical platforms for novel biomarker discovery and assessment. With this panel, we will then develop a program of
clinical biomarker validation in the acute and chronic periods of clinical TBI
R ole: Co-investigator