Past and Present CDI Grant Awardees


Friedman Endowed Fellowship Award

2023-2024

Bassem Shoucri, MD, PhD - Monounsaturated Fatty Acids and Adipose Tissue Plasticity in Obesity

2022-2023

Sri Nikhita Chimatapu, MD - Use of Continuous Glucose Monitor in Adolescents with Obesity

Angela Desmond, MD - Utilizing Cardiac Magnetic Resonance to Improve Prenatal Planning and Postnatal Care in Severe Congenital Heart Disease

2021-2022

Paula Prieto Jimenez, MD - Defining the Molecular Basis of Two Monogenic Diseases Affecting the Gastrointestinal Tract

2020-2021

Pina Patel, MD - Assessment of Brain Pre-Frontal Cortex and Cognition in Adolescents with Single Ventricle Heart Disease

2019-2020

Lisa Kohn, MD, PhD - How do the changes we acquire over a lifetime impact the chance of autoimmunity: Epigenetics' role in autoimmune outcomes

2018-2019

Sean Fitzwater, MD - Whole genome sequencing of Staphylococcus aureus isolates to describe transmission in the NICU and determine genetic factors associated with transmission and invasion

2017-2018

Janice Bitong, MD - The gut microbiome, its metabolites, and their role in chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction

2016-2017

Elena Minakova, MD, MS - Melanotan-II reverses autistic features in environmental and genetic mouse models of autism


Fellows Research Support Award

2023-2024

Neema Pithia, MD - Unraveling the Role of IL-1 and TNF Signaling in Macrophage-Mediated Immunity During Intrauterine Infection

Camille Hamilton, MD - Genetic Testing Station Increases Germline Genetic Testing Knowledge

Morgan Quezada-Lopez, MD, MPH - The Effect of Parental Stress in the NICU on Infant Behavior and Development

2022-2023

Janice Chan, DO - Association Between Self-monitored Blood Glucose, Continuous Glucose Monitor Use, and Diabetes Outcome in Youths with Type 1 Diabetes and Public Insurance

Manuel Viamonte, MD - Non-invasive Measure of Ketogenesis In Critically Ill Pediatric Patients

Esther Kim, MD - Exploring the Mechanism of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Pathologic Neovascularization in Oxygen-induced Retinopathy

Diana Chernikova, MD, PhD - Effects of a Crohn’s Disease-associated Coding Variant of SLC39A8 on Small Intestinal Selenium Homeostasis, Antioxidant Function, Microbiome, and High Fat Diet-induced Enteritis

Caroline Koletic, MD - The Effect of Dysbiotic Gut Microbiome of Families with Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Intestinal Inflammation and Fibrosis in Humanized Gnotobiotic TL1A Transgenic Mice

2021-2022

Alvin Chan, MD, MPH - Manipulating bile acid composition using genome editing to understand lipid metabolism

Mark Garcia, MD - A Mobile Phone Intervention to Promote Adherence to Survivorship Care Among Young Adult Cancer Survivors

Megha Thakkar, MD - The Role of BLM in Hematopoiesis and Leukemogenesis

2020-2021

Katie Strobel, MD - Investigating Fetal Body Composition with Free-Breathing Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Arham Ali, MD - Modulating the Bile Acid Pool to Decrease Dietary Lipid Absorption for Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alexander Parisky, MD - Modeling Vape-Associate Lung Injury in Mice

Alvin Chan, MD - Modulating the Bile Acid Pool to Decrease Dietary Lipid Absorption for Treatment of Non-Alcoholic Liver Disease

2019-2020

Geoanna M. Bautista, MD - The role of of piezo1 in the gastrointestinal tract

Jacquelyn Crane, MD - The role of De-differentiation in Osteosarcoma via Integrated Functional & Multi-Omic Characterization

Eric Tsay, MD - Investigating the impact of a web-based educational support intervention on the effective use of continuous glucose monitors in adolescents and young adults with diabetes: a pilot study

2018-2019

Shweta Namjoshi, MD, MPH - Enteric Iron Transport and Regulation

Blaire Limm-Chan, MD - Anemia, iron deficiency, and fibroblast growth factor 23 in pediatric kidney transplant recipients

2017-2018

Janice Bitong, MD - The gut microbiome, its metabolites, and their role in chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction

Scott Nowicki, MD, PhD - Molecular determinants of cellular immunogenicity in synovial sarcoma

2016-2017

Asamaa Abu-Maziad, MD - Proteomic analysis of renal tissue in Lupus Nephritis using Nano-scale Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Steven Jonas, MD, PhD - Stem cell acupuncture - multifaceted nanobiomaterial assemblies for targeted genome editing of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

Emily Whang, MD - Study of the mechanisms involved in the resistance to Colitis by VIP inhibition


Junior Faculty Career Development Grant

2022-2023

Benjamin Macadangdang, MD, PhD - The Regulation of Diversity Generating Retroelements

2019-2020

Emily Whang, MD - A study of the alterations in cholesterol metabolism after vertical sleeve gasteroctomy

Marciana Laster, MD - Vitamin D genetics and recial differences in pediatric chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder

2018-2019

Joanna Gell, MD - Utilizing pluripotent stem cells to generate a model of germ cell tumors

Viviana Fajardo Martinez, MD - The role of glucose as a promoter for cardiac regeneration


Seed Grant

2023-2024

Jeremy Moore, MD - Intraoperative Cardiac Conduction System Mapping for Congenital Heart Disease

Vivian Chang, MD, MS - Regulation of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Regeneration by the Gut-Blood Axis

Rajsekar Rajaraman, MD, MS - Cellular Immunity in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Associated Epilepsy

Erin Okawa, MD - A Study to Evaluate the Accuracy of Continuous Glucose Monitors on Neonates with Hyperinsulinism

Colin Sallee, MD, MS - Endothelial Glycocalyx Degradation, Barrier Dysfunction, and Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

2022-2023

Marlin Touma, MD, PhD - Elucidating Novel Role(s) of Ppp1r1b Long Noncoding RNA in Myogenesis and Dystrophin Regulation

Mark Hanudel, MD, MS - Effects of Phosphate, Iron, and Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 on Kidney Function and Fibrosis in CKD

2021-2022

Satiro De Oliveira, MD - Engineering Immune Cellular Therapy for Ewing Sarcoma

Hiroki Nariai, MD, PhD, MS - Application of Deep Learning in Analyzing Electroencephalogram of Pediatric Epilepsy

Elizabeth Marcus, MD - The Role of CagA/CagPAI in H. Pylori-induced decrease in NA, K-ATPase as a Mechanism of Gastric Injury

2020

Viviana Fajardo Martinez, MD - The Role of Glucose as a Promoter for Neonatal Murine Cardiac Regeneration

Mark Hanudel, MD, MS - The Pathologic Effects of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 Fragments

2019-2020

Andreas Schwingshackl, MD - A novel cell stretch device highlights important differences in the cellular response between positive and negative pressure-induced lung injury

2018-2019

Rujuta Bhatt, MD - Quantitative measures of motor function in syndromic and nonsyndromic forms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Sai Iyer, MD - Screening for early literacy delays in preschool children

Marciana Laster, MD - Biomarkers of bone turnover and mineralization in pediatric dialysis patients

Emily Whang, MD -  CEACAM1 regulates TIM3-mediated T-cell exhaustion in a murine model of orthotopic liver transplantation

2017-2018

Vivian Chang, MD - Regulation of stem cell aging and cancer by the vascular niche

Elizabeth Marcus, MD - Post-translational modifications of the Na,K-ATPase induced by H.pylori infection as a mechanism of decreased barrier function

Preethi Vijayara, PhD, MBA - Using an induced pluripotent stem cell model to understand and treat interstitial lung diseases in children

Laura Wozniak, MD - A multicenter pilot study of the early clinical impact of DSA following pediatric liver transplantation

2016-2017

Elizabeth Barnert, MD, MPH, MS - Understanding the health and healthcare needs of commercially sexually exploited girls: a partnership with the Los Angeles County STAR Court

Alison Chu, MD - The role of epithelial membrane protein-2 in placental vascularization and programming of adult cardiovascular disease

Laura Payne, PhD - A behavioral intervention for pain catastrophizing in primary dysmenorrhea

Katherine Perry, MD - Regulation of bone cell function in CKD

2015-2016

Kalpashri Kesavan, MD - Activation of limb proprioceptive nerve fibers to decrease intermittent hypoxia episodes in premature neonates

Animesh Sabnis, MS - Feasibility of a structured document for characterizing family meetings in neonatal intensive care

Adam Schickedanz, MD - The impact of financial coaching on child health, parent quality of life, mental health, and family financial strain

Marlin Touma, MD - Targeting novel Wnt signals in postnatal heart

2014-2015

Kara Calkins, MD - Intravenous fish oil and pediatric intestinal failure associated liver disease

Subhadra Evans, PhD - Neural correlates of pediatric irritable bowel syndrome

Kuk-Wha Lee, MD, PhD - Humanin as an inflammatory biomarker in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Joyce Matsumoto, MD - The ketogenic diet for neuroprotection after acute brain surgery


Resident Research Recognition Award

2023-2024

Hiroya Ono, MD, PhD

Lisa Soumekh, MD

Alexandra Abbott, MD

Teryn Igawa, MD

Emma Burdekin, MD

John Hwang, MD

2022-2023

Alexandra Abbott, MD

Huan Vinh Dong, MD

John Hwang, MD

Jacqueline Kading, MD

2020-2021

John Bosco, MD, MPH

Nora Gibson, MD

Camille Hamilton, MD

Neema Pithia, MD

Nicole A. Smith, MD

2019-2020

Alvin Chan, MD, MPH

Esther Kim, MD

Katie Strobel, MD

2018-2019

Alvin Chan, MD, MPH

Christina Farkas, MD

Lindsay Schwartz, MD

Wei Wang, MD

2017-2018

Allison Wu, MD

Katie Strobel, MD


Today's and Tomorrow's Children Fund Bridge Grant

2019-2020

Alma Guerrero, MD, MPH - A "hybrid" mobil phone family-based intervention to prevent early childhood obesity among latino children

Andreas Schwingshacki, MD, PhD - TREK-1 potassium channels protect from hyperoxiainduced lung injury

2018-2019

Preethi Vijayaraj, PhD - Modeling and enhancing mucociliary clearance in pulmonary disease using induced pluripotent stem cells

Loris Hwang, MD - Biological vulnerability to chlamydia trachomatis in adolescents and young women: the complex intersection of cervicovaginal microbiome, cervical maturation, and mucosal immunity

2017-2018

Alison Chu, MD - The immunologic mechanisms of placental insufficiency and programming of adult cardiovascular disease

Reza Jarrahy, MD - Cleft palate repair by a novel osteogenic agent, oxysterol

Caroline Kuo, MD - Targeted gene editing in the treatment of X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome

2016-2017

Kalpashri Kesavan, MBBS - Proprioceptive stimulation for apnea of prematurity

Elizabeth Marcus, MD - From tummy aches to ulcers: Understanding the mechanism of stomach injury in the children infected with H. pylori

Katherine Perry, MD - Extracellular matrix and bone biology in CKD

July 2015 -2016

Vivian Chang, MD - Pediatric cancer predisposition

Shaun Hussain, MD, MS - Genomic characterization of infantile spasms

Marlin Touma, MD, PhD - Minding the tiny heart: Deciphering novel mechanisms of maturation and stress response of heart in newborns with congenital heart defects

January 2015 - 2016

Martin Martin, MD - Development of a porcine model of bioengineered intestines

Eileen Tsai, MD - Innovative approaches and treatments of antibody mediated rejection in children

Laura Wozniak, MD - Donor specific antibodies following pediatric liver transplant


Resident Research Grant Award

2019-2020

Esther Kim, MD - The effect of an intravenous composite lipid on fatty acids in neonates

John Bosco, MD - Barriers to healthcare during reentry amongst formerly incarcerated male youth

Neema Pithia, MD - Use of human milk-based diet in the late preterm and term infant in the neonatal intensive care unit: a pilot randomized controlled trial

2018-2019

Alvin Chan, MD, MPH - Impact of HLA and non-HLA antibodies on pediatric liver and intestinal transplant outcomes

Daniel Cho, MD - Measuring infant body composition using free-breathing MRI

Esther Kim, MD - The effect of an intravenous composite lipid on fatty acids in neonates

2017-2018

Allison Wu, MD - The impact of nutritional practices on the intestinal microbiome in gastroschisis infants

Katie Strobel, MD - Growth and neurodevelopment at 6 months and 24 months for infants born with congenital gastrointestinal anomaly


Harry Winston Fellowships

2019-2020

Brian Na, MD - Elucidating the molecular landscape of atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors

2018-2019

Liesbeth Maggiotto, MD - The tales of rat entrails: Intra-uterine growth restriction and the microbiome

Kimberly Trieschmann, MD - VSI-IBD: A measure of GI symptom specific anxiety in IBD.

Jacquelyn Crane, MD - Functional genomics of osteosarcoma

2017-2018

Brian Friend, MD - Biomarkers for acute graft-versus-host disease influence treatment decisions and improve clinical outcomes

Marjorie-Anne Guerra, MD - Immunophenotyping to differentiate infection from rejection in intestinal transplantation

Liesbeth Maggiotto, MD - The tales of rat entrails: Intra-uterine growth restriction and the microbiome

2016-2017

Claire Baldauf, MD - Neuron rescue for intra-uterine growth restriction with novel peptide: Humanin

Marjorie-Anne Guerra, MD - Immunophenotyping to differentiate infection from rejection in intestinal transplantation

Manal Habib, MD - Investigating the role of endogenous Humanin in insulin secretion and β cell viability

2015-2016

Claire Baldauf, MD - Neuron rescue for intra-uterine growth restriction with novel peptide: Humanin

Jina Lim, MD, MS - Role of Gas6 in inflammation-induced aortic valvular calcification and fibrosis

Emily Whang, MD - Study of the mechanisms involved in the resistance to colitis induced by VIP inhibition

2014-2015

Kristina Adachi, MD - Investigating the impact of bacterial STIs on perinatal transmission of HIV and/or Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Leslie Kimura, MD - Cytoprotective effects of Humanin on myoblast survival and differentiation against oxidative stress

Edward Tayla, MD - Efficacy of glucagon like peptide-1 agonist exenatide in the management of pediatric short bowel syndrome


CTSI-CDI Team Science Grant

2015-2016

Isidro Salusky, MD - Roles of iron, phosphate, and chronic kidney disease in the regulation of fibroblast growth factor 23

Rashmi Shetgiri, MD, MSHS - A primary care-based, family-focused intervention to reduce Latino youth violence

2014-2015

Joanna Jen, MD, PhD - Improving the diagnosis and treatment of enigmatic pediatric neurological disorders

Sheryl Katoka, MD, MSHS - Redesigning depression detection and treatment for low-income minority adolescents in school health clinics

Donald Kohn, MD - Stem cell gene therapy for sickle cell disease

Harley Kornblum, MD, PhD - Neural stem cells in autism pathophysiology

Biagio Saitta, PhD - Patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and mouse knock-in mutant as models to identify regulatory mechanisms of skeletal dysplasia disorders


K12 Child Health Research Center Development Award Scholars 

2015-2016

Alison Chu, MD - Endothelial dysfunction in placental insufficiency

Joanna Gell, MD - Interrogating the role of PRDM14 in human germ cell development and germ cell tumorigenesis

Mark Hanudel, MD - Iron and Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 in Chronic Kidney Disease

Caroline Kuo, MD - Targeted Gene Therapy in the Treatment of X-Linked Hyper-IgM Syndrome

2014-2015

Alison Chu, MD - Endothelial dysfunction in placental insufficiency

Satiro De Oliveira, MD - Gene modification of hematopoietic stem cells for enhancement of graft-versus-lymphoma effect

Mark Hanudel, MD - Iron and fibroblast growth factor 23 in chronic kidney disease

Caroline Kuo, MD - Targeted gene therapy in the treatment of X-Linked Hyper-IgM Syndrome