Mentoring patient-oriented research to improve neonatal pulmonary outcomes

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute awarded The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia $128,466 on September 1, 2026, under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) to support a patient-oriented research program led by Dr. Elizabeth Foglia, an Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology, focused on improving neonatal respiratory outcomes by optimizing non-invasive ventilation and improving neonatal airway management.

The award funds a K24 mentoring grant that accelerates a clinical research agenda centered on newly available supraglottic airway devices for preterm infants while expanding mentoring impact. Dr. Foglia will pursue four career development activities to enhance her mentorship capacity: strengthen her mentorship skills, broaden methodologic expertise, increase the mentee pool through a new national fellowship, and formalize a vertical mentoring model to foster mentorship skills in junior investigators. Three complementary scientific aims will deliver feasibility, safety, effectiveness, and acceptability data to inform definitive trials of supraglottic airways in preterm infants.

The award is a project grant with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031, with place of performance in Philadelphia, PA.

Abstract

DR. Elizabeth foglia, an associate professor of pediatrics in the division of neonatology at the children's hospital of philadelphia and the university of pennsylvania, leads a patient-oriented research program focused on improving neonatal respiratory outcomes by optimizing non-invasive ventilation and improving neonatal airway management. This K24 application accelerates a clinical research agenda centered on newly available supraglottic airway (SA) devices for preterm infants while expanding the candidate's mentoring impact. She has identified four career development activities to improve her ability and capacity to mentor junior investigators: enhance her mentorship skills, broaden her methodologic expertise, increase the mentee pool through a new national fellowship, and formalize a vertical mentoring model to foster mentorship skills. Three complementary scientific aims will deliver key feasibility, safety, effectiveness, and acceptability data to inform definitive trials of SA in preterm infants