Pediatric Research Grant

Have a research idea that impacts child health? Dell Med Department of Pediatrics and Dell Children’s Medical Center have developed a new funding mechanism to support pediatric research projects. From equipment or software to participant gift cards and supplies, this Pediatric Research Grant can provide a pathway for you to complete your research project.

The intent of these grants is to help drive projects from idea to completion, which leads to discovery worthy of publication in respected peer reviewed journals. These publications are critical to producing graduates and faculty that want to be academically successful, developing an area of scientific expertise and in the process generating exemplary CVs, elevating the reputation of the medical school, and demonstrating a track record of funding that is of critical importance when attempting to secure funding from extramural private or government sources.

Eligibility: Dell Med and DCMC faculty, fellows, residents, and staff to support clinical research, basic science research, or QI projects dealing with the pediatric population. Each project must have at least 1 faculty member and 1 trainee (fellow, resident, grad/med student, postdoc, etc). Approval is contingent on current Dell Med faculty appointment status. If you are unsure of your faculty status, please check the UT Directory.

Funding Available: Projects will be considered for up to $10,000 support. Larger grant requests may be submitted and will be taken under consideration.

Funding Allowed: Funding is available to support gift cards for participants, materials, equipment, translation services, and supplies. Funding is not available for faculty or staff time, consultants, conferences, or travel.

How to Apply: Complete this form by uploading your protocol, budget, budget justification, NIH biosketch, and supporting documents (ie, consent form, survey questions). Protocols should be on UT IRB templates and have complete background, methods, and references. Budget justification should include written quotes for all budget items.

Process: An expert panel will review your submission and determine the funding provided to you.

Awardees must begin the use of the allocated funds within one year of receiving the grant. Projects must be completed within two years of receiving the grant. Awardees may request a time extension if they are showing progress and ongoing needs. Extensions may be requested in writing and are subject to approval by the department.

Output: Awardees will complete semi-annual progress reports. Awardees will present findings at the monthly Pediatric Research Seminar and/or at the annual Dept of Pediatrics Research Symposium (each April). Awardees are encouraged to submit their work for other educational conferences and are expected to submit their findings for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Applications Now Open

Deadlines: Quarterly - Feb 1, 2026; May 1, 2026; Aug 1, 2026; Nov 1, 2026

For more information: contact Keli Hawthorne, Director of Clinical Research

Examples of Previously Funded Projects:

• Colin Mervak, MD, PEM Fellow with mentor Matt Wilkinson, MD will study the “Effect of Home Nebulized Albuterol vs. Supportive Care on Unscheduled Return Visits in Infants with Viral Bronchiolitis”
• Heather Leidy, PhD with UT doctoral candidate Charlotte Griffith, MS, RD will evaluate the “Benefits of Breakfast Consumption on Sleep Health & Circadian Rhythms in Adolescents with Overweight/Obesity”
• David Heckler, PhD, UT grad student Cinthia Alvarado, Anees Siddiqui, MD, and Lynn Monnat, PhD will study “Improving Outcomes for Youth with Brain-Gut Interaction Disorders”
• Richard Lion, DO and faculty from the UT Additive Manufacturing and Design Innovation Center Jared Allison, PhD and Carolyn Seepersad, PhD will evaluate “Multimodal Radiologic Imaging for Peri-Operative 3D Anatomic Models of Congenital Heart Disease”
• Brian Kaufman, MD and orthopedic surgery residents Qais Zai, MD and Bandele Okelana, MD will study the “Effect of Perioperative IV Steroid Administration on Post-operative Pain Levels and Opioid Use in Pediatric Patients After Posterior Spinal Fusion and Instrumentation for Spine Deformity”

Public Link: https://intranet.dellmed.utexas.edu/public/pediatric-research-grant