Project Grant K23HD118189

Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) awarded a K23 Career Development Award of $172,623 to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on April 15, 2026, under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865). This award supports Dr. Camilia Kamoun's development as an independent physician-scientist focused on patient-centered research addressing the psychosocial health impacts of early female puberty. The project will deliver a Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) measure specifically designed to assess psychosocial outcomes in girls with early puberty through integrated mixed-methods research, including qualitative characterization of parental health concerns and priorities, exploration of associations between patient-reported outcomes and demographic factors, and adaptation of existing Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures.

The deliverables encompass research outputs across three specific aims that will establish evidence-based tools for clinical care, ultimately supporting a clinical trial to assess the effects of pubertal suppression treatment on psychosocial health. The award extends through May 31, 2031, with Dr. Kamoun utilizing the final two years to develop an R01 or equivalent proposal for subsequent research. This K23 mechanism supports junior investigator career development and is positioned within NICHD's broader mission to advance understanding of human development and enhance the lives of children and adolescents through rigorous, peer-reviewed biomedical and behavioral research.