The Midwest Society for Pediatric Research (MSPR) held its 2026 Annual Scientific Meeting September 15–17 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Each year, the conference highlights innovative scientific discoveries and provides a space for collaboration and career development.
The Department of Pediatrics was well represented with faculty, fellows, scientists, and trainees delivering five platform presentations and eight poster presentations spanning developmental neuroscience, pediatric resuscitation, youth sports concussion, acute kidney failure in the PICU, long-term kidney outcomes after preterm birth, PICU quality improvement, and adolescent and young adult oncology.
Below is a list of people affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics who provided oral presentations. Click on a presentation title to view a list of co-authors.
- Vicky Chan, research coordinator in the Awni Al-Subu Research Group, presented “Ventilation Modality Effects on Physiologic Parameters and Early Survival Following Hypoxic Cardiac Arrest in a Pediatric Swine Model”
- Ipek Kadioglu, research intern in Pelin Cengiz Research Group, presented “Hippocampal Interneuron Population Dynamics During Postnatal Development and Sex Differences in Ntrk2 Expression”
- Melis Baskaya, research intern in Peter Ferrazzano Research Group, presented “A Pilot Study on Repetitive Head Impacts in Youth Soccer Players”
- Paige Condit, MD, instructor, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery, presented “Long-Term Kidney Outcomes Following Preterm Birth Utilizing Epic Cosmos”
- Ebba Hjertstedt, MD, MS, associate professor, Divisions of Hospital Medicine and Complex Care and Global Pediatrics, was an invited speaker at the POCUS Symposium
Below is a list of poster presenters affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics.
- Annika Hoisington, undergraduate researcher in the Pelin Cengiz Research Group, presented “Attendance Rates of Neonates with HIE at a Newborn Follow-Up Clinic: A Single-Center Retrospective Review”
- Ramya Varadarajan, PhD, scientist in the Pelin Cengiz Research Group, presented “Enhanced Intrinsic Excitability of Surviving Hippocampal Neurons After Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury”
- Irem Isik, international medical student volunteer in the Pelin Cengiz Research Group, presented “Reactive Astrocytes as a Sex-Specific Target of TrkB After Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Injury”
- Awni Al-Subu, MD, professor, Division of Critical Care, presented “Reducing Pediatric ICU Discharge Delays Through Standardized Communication and Early Discharge Identification”
- Hanna Jens, medical student in the Cathy Lee-Miller Research Group, presented “Evaluation of Patient Characteristics and Supportive Care Referrals in a Multidisciplinary Adolescent Young Adult Oncology Clinic”
- Jennifer Bauer, DO, PGY-6 fellow, Division of Neonatology and Newborn Nursery, presented “Evaluating the Association Between Cerebral Oxygenation in the First Two Weeks of Age in Preterm Neonates and General Movements Assessments Prior to Discharge”
- Makayla Thomas, medical student and Shapiro scholar in the Amy Hanson Research Group, presented “Variability in Telemetry-Based Analysis at CRRT Initiation (VITAL CRRT)”
- Sarah Scalzo, medical student Shapiro scholar in the Amy Hanson Research Group, presented “Variability in Telemetry-Based Analysis with CRRT Ultrafiltration Changes (VITAL CRRT-UF)”
Conference highlights
This year’s conference included presentations from many students, trainees, and scientists representing six research groups within the department. This is a clear sign of the depth of the department’s research training pipeline. The department was also well represented in MSPR leadership. Al-Subu serves on the MSPR council and moderated scientific sessions. Cengiz serves as MSPR treasurer.
Scenes from the 2026 MSPR Annual Scientific Meeting
