Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Rural and Urban Colombian Children’s Cognitive and Social-Emotional Development and Importance for Global Child Outcome Research

Interdisciplinary Research Award

Applicants: Sarah Mulkey, MD, PhD, Prenatal Pediatrics Institute, Children’s National Hospital; Madison Berl, PhD, Division of Pediatric Neuropsychology, Children’s National Hospital; Margarita Arroyave-Wessel, MPH, Telemedicine, Children’s National Hospital; Carlos Cure, MD and John Negret, PhD, Biomelab, Barranquilla, Colombia; Pablo Reyes, PhD, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio and Pontifica Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia

Project Objectives: The goal of this project is to determine the impact of COVID-19 on child cognitive and social-emotional development in low-risk Colombian children from rural and urban settings and the factors that influence outcome. The study will evaluate the impact of educational loss due to COVID-19 on the social and cognitive development of school-aged children in both rural and urban regions of Colombia.

Association between temporal changes in serum lactate, fluid resuscitation, and outcomes, in Malawian children with cerebral malaria

Trainee Mentoring Award

Applicants: Ronke Olowojesiku, MD, MPH, Pediatric Residency; Douglas Postels, MD, Pediatric Neurology

Objectives: To identify whether trends in serum lactate through time are a better marker of adverse outcomes than a single measurement at admission, and to identify whether fluid resuscitation (crystalloid, colloid, blood) modifies these associations.

Improving Retention of Research Participants in Malawi

Trainee Mentoring Award

Applicants: Carolyn Ramwell, RN, MSN, CCRN (pediatric) Children’s Heart Institute, Children’s National Hospital; Cara Pleau, RN BSN; Leah Arold, RN, BSN, CPN, CCRN; Douglas Postels MD, Division of Neurology, Children’s National Hospital (mentor); Alice Liomba, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital; Blantyre, Malawi; Lucinda Manda-Taylor, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences; Blantyre, Malawi

Project Objectives:

1. Evaluate associations between demographic and clinical factors and retention after hospital follow-up for children hospitalized with cerebral malaria in Blantyre, Malawi
2. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, develop a pilot educational tool to improve retention of families at highest risk of not following up post- hospitalization.