Cutting-Edge Innovation and Discovery
The Child Health Research Institute is an innovative partnership between University of Nebraska Medical Center and Children’s Nebraska that was launched to change – and save – young lives.
What We Do:
- Promote the health and well-being of children.
- Discover new diseases.
- Contribute new knowledge about the mechanisms of disease.
- Translate research into new tests and novel treatments.
- Explore innovative approaches to disease prevention.
- Use resources wisely through responsible stewardship.
Mission
To provide every child an equal opportunity for a healthy life through leading-edge innovation and discovery.
Vision
To support talented CHRI researchers in innovative research and collaborative discovery to improve the health of children everywhere.
Goals
- Elevate and Integrate Research: Foster, sustain and integrate high impact pediatric research across Children's Nebraska, UNMC, partner institutions and the communities we serve.
- Develop Premier Investigators: Promote an environment that recruits, retains and advances established investigators while strategically mentoring and investing resources to drive sustained growth of early-career faculty, our future leaders in child health research.
- Ensure Our Discoveries Impact Child Health: Discoveries will be disseminated, discussed, critically reviewed and then integrated into practice in clinics, hospitals and populations to improve the health of every child and prepare each child for a fulfilling and productive life.
Message from our Executive Director
As the Executive Director of the Child Health Research Institute, I am focused on building a foundation for our investigators to successfully grow research platforms, collaborate and secure extramural funding. We will disseminate the results of our efforts to the greater pediatric scientific community to improve the health of children through research innovation world-wide. Along with UNMC and Children's, our committed sponsors, the Child Health Research Institute is poised to provide every child an equal opportunity for a healthy life.
A Closer Look
Dr. Ann Anderson-Berry talks about how the Child Health Research Institute empowers pediatric research.
By the Numbers
Our key metrics
500
Institute members
235
Current studies
1,104
Patients enrolled
About CHRI
Our people and purpose.
Upcoming Events
News Stories
Midwestern Symposium Explores Environmental Influences on Pediatric Cancer and Congenital Anomalies
On Oct. 7, the Midwestern Symposium on Environmental Determinants of Pediatric Cancer and Congenital Anomalies provided a platform for research presentations, panel discussions and collaborative opportunities. The symposium took place on the campus of UNMC and was sponsored by the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, the Child Health Research Institute (CHRI) and UNMC's College of Public Health.
Haiying Shen, MD, PhD, Named CoNDA Phase II Research Project Leaders
Haiying Shen, MD, PhD, assistant professor, Division of Pediatric Neurology, has been named a Cognitive Neuroscience of Development and Aging (CoNDA) Phase II research project leader. Neurocognitive disorders are among the most prevalent and disabling health conditions worldwide. Prevalence of both neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders and age-related neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise, presenting an urgent need to identify mechanisms and treatments.
CHRI and the Department of Pediatrics partners with the Umoⁿhoⁿ Nation Public School for Opioid Abuse Prevention Project
During the Umoⁿhoⁿ Nation Public School’s (UNPS) health fair in 2023, Ann Anderson Berry, MD, PhD, executive director of the Child Health Research Institute (CHRI) and Amy Rezac-Elgohary, MA, outreach and education programs manager, engaged in a pivotal discussion with the school’s superintendent, Stacie J. Hardy. This dialogue revealed critical health concerns within the school community, particularly regarding the opioid addiction crisis, underscoring the need for additional support to strengthen the professional resources and prevention education in the school. Specifically, a dedicated drug and alcohol counselor was identified as a priority for addressing substance use disorders within the student population.
Research of Aditya Bade, PhD, Receives R01 and R21 Grants
Child Health Research Institute member, Aditya Bade, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, recently received notice that his research has received an R01 grant and a R21 grant. His project, "Synergistic Effect of Nicotine and Antiretrovirals on Placental Development" received an R01 grant from the National Institutes of Health and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH/NDA). His R21 project is supported by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NIH/NICHD). His projects seeks to develop novel chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to non-invasively identify antiretrovirals (ARVs)-induced developmental neuronal impairments in rodent embryo brain during gestation with a goal of unraveling altered metabolites as early-stage biomarkers.
New Study Tests Use of Aquatic Treadmill to Improve Walking Motion in Children with Cerebral Palsy
Could the stabilizing effects of water help children who walk with an irregular gait to find a more stable stride? In May, Child Health Research Institute members at the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) published results of a study evaluating an aquatic treadmill environment to improve walking biomechanics. The work was published in the journal Sensors. The investigative team was led by Brian Knarr, PhD, and David Kingston, PhD, both assistant professors in the Department of Biomechanics at UNO.
Research and More
