On March 28, 127 pediatric professionals gathered at the Marriott in East Lansing for Pediatric Research Day. In addition to the three primary speakers, researchers presented project reports to the plenary, and participants had an opportunity to study poster presentations.
William D. Lyman, PhD (Keynote)
Dr. Lyman presented a preview of The National Children's Health Study, a national longitudinal study of environmental influences (including physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial) on children's health and development. This will be the largest and longest study of children ever to be conducted in the United States, following 100,000 children for more than 20 years. Five Michigan counties (Genessee, Grand Traverse, Lenawee, Macomb, and Wayne) will be study sites, and Kent County is a pilot site.
It is anticipated that the study will provide:
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The answer to concerns about known exposures during childhood to potential toxicants
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The power to determine absence of effects or benefit of exposures to various products important for our society
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Causal factors for a number of diseases and conditions of children with suspected environmental causes
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How multiple causes interact to result in multiple outcomes
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Large sample size required to apply knowledge of the human genome to understand multi-factorial genetic conditions
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Identification of early life factors that contribute to many adult conditions
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A national resource to answer future questions by using stored biological and environmental samples and the extensive data for decades to come
Dr. Lyman is the Director of the Children’s Research Center of Michigan (CRCM). In this capacity, and as the Carman and Ann Adams Endowed Chair in Pediatric Research, he oversees all administrative, research, training, grant funding and collaborative CRCM efforts, Dr. Lyman is also Professor and Associate Chairman of Pediatrics. Dr. Lyman is the author of many peer-reviewed manuscripts as well as numerous chapters and monographs. Additionally, Dr. Lyman is a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences at Wayne State University.
For more information, see Keynote: The National Children's Study (pdf)
Bonita Stanton, MD
Dr. Stanton presented "HIV and STD Prevention in Adolescents: Focus on Kids Around the World." She described their work with adolescents in the United States, Namibia, and the Bahamas, noting that youth between the ages of 10 and 24 account for more than 50% of new postinfancy infections worldwide.
Dr. Stanton is Schotanus Professor and Chair of the Dept. of Pediatrics at Wayne State University/Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Dr. Stanton graduated from Wellesley College and Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Stanton has been the author of over 130 peer-reviewed manuscripts as well as numerous chapters and monographs.
For more information, see Presentation: HIV and STD Prevention in Adolescents (pdf)
Joel Nigg, PhD
Dr. Nigg summarized the findings of three research projects on "ADHD and Adolescence." He noted the following final conclusions:
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ADHD in adolescents is important with regard to long term health and outcome
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Has validity and reliability
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May have somewhat altered causal structure versus in childhood
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Rapid social changes and differential neural development help explain this
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Developmentally sensitive asessment and treatment are important
Dr. Nigg is Professor of Clinical Psychology at MSU. He is most well known for his work on the cognitive correlates of ADHD, and his work has been continuously funded by the NIH for the past decade. He is the author of a new book entitled What Causes ADHD. His current work, with collaborators at MSU and elsewhere, examines genetic, cognitive, toxicological and family correlations of ADHD.
For more information, see Presentation: ADHD and Adolescence (pdf)
Research Day full brochure