Elevating workforce proficiency in pediatric disabilities through interdisciplinary research training program

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development awarded the University of North Florida $159,972 on June 1, 2026, to support PRIME-PEDS (Proficiency in Research and Innovation for Multidisciplinary Education in Pediatrics), a 12-week structured research training program under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865).

The program immerses undergraduate and graduate students in mentored research projects addressing pediatric rehabilitation, safety, and assistive technology. Participants from physical therapy, kinesiology, engineering, and biomedical sciences collaborate in cross-disciplinary teams to design and conduct research on mobility, balance, diagnostics, and assistive technology for children with disabilities. Training components include modules on pediatric motor control, ultrasound imaging, biomedical research ethics, clinical assessments, adaptive toy design, 3D printing, computer modeling, and seizure detection. Students engage in hands-on data collection and analysis guided by faculty mentors and supported by partnerships with clinical collaborators including Mayo Clinic and University of Florida Pediatrics, and industry partners including Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic.

The award runs through May 31, 2031, with performance at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. The program builds on prior NICHD-sponsored training efforts at the institution and leverages an established experiential learning framework within the principal investigator's laboratory that engages students from multiple biomedical majors in mentored research.

Abstract

The proposed research education program, prime-peds (proficiency in research and innovation for multidisciplinary education in pediatrics), will immerse undergraduate and graduate students in a structured, 12-week research training experience focused on pediatric rehabilitation, safety, and assistive technology. Hosted at the university of north florida, the program integrates interdisciplinary training in biomedical engineering, behavioral science, and clinical research through mentored research projects, coursework, expert seminars, and direct exposure to clinical and community environments. Students (from physical therapy, kinesiology, engineering, biomedical sciences) will collaborate in small, cross-disciplinary teams to design and conduct research addressing real-world challenges related to mobility, balance, diagnostics, and assistive technology for children with disabilities. Examples of core training components include modules on pediatric motor control, ultrasound imaging, biomedical research ethics, clinical assessments, adaptive toy design, 3D printing, computer modeling, and seizure detection. Participants will engage in hands-on data collection and analysis, guided by faculty mentors and supported by partnerships with clinical (e.g., mayo clinic, UF pediatrics) and industry collaborators (e.g., johnson & johnson, medtronic). The program emphasizes scientific rigor, translational relevance, and interprofessional communication, preparing students for advanced study and careers in biomedical and rehabilitation sciences. Building on prior nichd-sponsored training efforts at the university of north florida, prime-peds leverages an established experiential learning framework within the PI's laboratory, which actively engages students from multiple biomedical majors in mentored research. This foundation enables early-stage trainees to access interdisciplinary, hands-on experiences that promote long-term engagement in biomedical, behavioral, and clinical research careers.