Translational Research

The Pediatric Translational Research Center, part of the Child Health Research Institute, unites physicians and scientists from Riley Children’s Health and the IU School of Medicine to bridge the gap between discovery and care.

What is translational research?

Studying in patients a new or improved therapy or diagnostic that has been developed as part of the investigators’ laboratory research program.

Why do we do translational research?

The reason for doing laboratory-based basic research at the Wells Center for Pediatric Research is to make discoveries that will benefit children. However, these discoveries never benefit children if they are not “translated” into clinical practice and into useful products. That’s where the translational research program comes in.

Translational Investigators

D. W. Clapp, MD

Senior Associate Dean for Entrepreneurial Research and Commercialization

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Joan M. Cook-Mills, PhD

Professor of Pediatrics

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Carmella Evans-Molina, MD, PhD

Director, Indiana Diabetes Research Center

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Program Director

Benjamin Gaston, MD

Billie Lou Wood Professor of Pediatrics

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Yunjie Huang, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

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Mark R. Kelley, PhD

Betty and Earl Herr Professor of Pediatric Oncology Research

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Steven D. Rhodes, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

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Robert S. Tepper, MD, PhD

Mary Agnes Kennedy and Katheryn Kennedy Weinberger Professor of Pediatrics

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Clinical Studies

In the last 10 years, there have been 493 open clinical trials at IU School of Medicine and Riley Hospital. These are just a few examples of current translational studies.

Photolytic transdermal detection of sepsis phenotypes in the Pediatric ICU. Device invented in a joint project with IU School of Medicine and Purdue faculty.
Adaptive trial design for personalized severe asthma therapy in the Prcision Interventions for Severe and Exacerbation-Prone (PrecISE) asthma trial. The Cavosonstat intervention was developed by an IU School of Medicine investigator.
Vitamin C to Decrease the effects of Smoking in Pregnancy on Infant Lung Function (VCSIP); and Maternal Vitamin C Supplementation to Decrease Effects of Smoking During Pregnancy on Infant Lung Function and Health: Follow-up of 2 Randomized Trials and Association with Changes in DNA Methylation. This intervention was developed, in part, by an IU School of Medicine investigator.
Breath-based Diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis Pulmonary Exacerbations. This device and this assay were developed by IU School of Medicine investigators.
This project began with basic science observations made by IU School of Medicine and Wells Center investigators.
Inhaled PHOH-001 to treat human SARS-CoV2 infections. This early phase trial is based on work from IU School of Medicine and Wells Center investigators.
Inhaled S-nitrosoglutathione as a personalized treatment for asthma. Based on work for IU School of Medicine and Wells Center faculty.
DHEA as an asthma treatment. Based on work from IU School of Medicine and Wells Center investigators.
Theratyping using the nasal epithelium of CF patients who do not meet standard criteria for using the new CFTR modulator therapies.
Developing in vitro and in vivo, gene-specific approaches to managing primary ciliary dyskinesia.