CCHRI 2025 Annual Report
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- Stories of impact Jump to stories of impact
Colorado Child Health Research Institute (CCHRI)
We are leaders collaborating to solve the most challenging questions in child health. In collaboration with the University of Colorado Anschutz, our cross-campus team of investigators, faculty members, providers, research teams and supporting staff is committed to elevating research to improve clinical care across the lifespan. Together, we aspire to become the leading institute for child health research in the nation.
“Medical advances happen faster here because we’ve broken down silos and embraced an intentional culture of multidisciplinary collaboration and teamwork, which enables discovery to thrive.”RON SOKOL, MD, CHIEF SCIENTIFIC OFFICER, CHILD HEALTH
2025 by the numbers
We are proud of the remarkable accomplishments of our research teams and investigators. The numbers below reflect their relentless commitment to discovery and innovation — all in service of improving child health. Our funding continues to grow every day, with a more than 55% increase in annual research funding from 2020 to 2025.
Child health research at CU Anschutz
Our research efforts continue to be among the best funded in the nation, supported by a strong mix of federal grants, philanthropic contributions, industry studies and more. Together, this diverse funding ensures our research remains at the core of our mission.
*Source: 2024 Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research
Where funding comes from
Research activity at Children's Colorado
"Here, we are never complacent about our pursuit of research. It's woven into the fabric of everything we do. Together, we are forging new paths to the best care."JENA HAUSMAN, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL COLORADO
World-class research teams
Our team members have expertise across the entire lifespan, which makes our researchers uniquely positioned to advance life course research. From our faculty members and investigators to the clinical coordinators, lab technicians, nurses and more, our team members are at the top of their field and making a lasting impact.
Investing in the next generation of research leaders
Early-career researchers at Children’s Colorado are driving scientific innovation across genomics, immunology, neuroscience and beyond — shaping the future of pediatric medicine. Their work bridges the full research spectrum, translating discoveries from the lab to clinical impact. More than advancing today’s knowledge, these investigators are building the data, tools and infrastructure that will define the next era of child health research.
Ryan Kammeyer, MD
Dr. Kammeyer is a pediatric neurologist and assistant professor of pediatrics and neurology at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine. His clinical expertise and research focus on child neurology, autoimmune encephalitis, neuroimmunology and neuro-rheumatology.
Stephanie Gilley, MD, PhD
Dr. Gilley is a pediatric nutritionist and an assistant professor in Pediatrics-Nutrition at the CU Anschutz School of Medicine. Her clinical expertise and research are focused on improving and optimizing nutrition during infancy and early childhood.
“None of my research over the last year and a half could have been accomplished without the support of the Research and Innovation Scholar Award (RISA). It was truly a career-changing award that allowed me the time to establish my own laboratory, publish papers, speak at conferences and obtain funding. I will be forever grateful to the Wagner Family and the CCHRI for the gift of time that the RISA allowed.”STEPHANIE GILLEY, MD, PHD, PEDIATRIC NUTRITION PHYSICIAN
Driven by discovery: Our researchers at work
Multidisciplinary teams of concussion researchers, including Julie Wilson, MD, and David Howell, PhD, are setting new standards for pediatric care.
Neuro-oncologist Adam Green, MD, earned a $2.4 million grant from the NIH to study the causes, origins, prevention and treatment of pediatric radiation-induced gliomas.
Complex care physician and Medical Director of the CCHRI, Jamie Feinstein, MD, is exploring how to make polypharmacy easier for caregivers and safer for patients.
People and progress: CCHRI updates
Sarah Schmidt, MD, MSHI
In October, Dr. Schmidt joined the CCHRI team as the Medical Director of Clinical Research Informatics. She is contributing to medical and research leadership in the planning, development, implementation and optimization of information technology and clinical research informatics for the purpose of research operations at Children’s Colorado.
Calies Menard-Katcher, MD, MSCs
In January, Dr. Menard-Katcher joined the CCHRI medical director team. She brings extensive research and leadership expertise as a clinical investigator and Research Director for the Digestive Health Institute.
Awards and accomplishments
Every year, our researchers and team members receive hundreds of prestigious awards and honors that spotlight their dedication to improving child health. For 2025, we’ve highlighted select achievements that continue to contribute to our important mission.
2025 Pediatric Research Day award recipients
Research Mentor Award
Glenn Furuta, MD
Professor and Section Head of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
The Arnold Silverman, MD, Endowed Chair in Digestive Health
La Cache Endowed Chair for Gastrointestinal Allergic and Immunologic Diseases
Department of Pediatrics, CU Anschutz School of Medicine Director, Gastrointestinal Eosinophilic Diseases Program, Children's Hospital Colorado
Early-Stage Investigator Award
Allison Shapiro, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor
Director of Clinical Research
Section of Endocrinology
Department of Pediatrics
CU Anschutz School of Medicine
Team Science Award
eXtraordinarY Kids Research Team
Research Staff Awards
Christy Hires, MPH, CHES
Clinical Research Coordinator
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Hannah Mesi, MPH, CHES
Research Services Professional
Section of Nutrition
Department of Pediatrics
CU Anschutz School of Medicine
Celebrating our CCHRI internal grant awardees
Children’s Colorado awards internal research grants biannually in the spring and the fall, with a variety of funding opportunities for child health researchers throughout their careers. In 2025, more than a dozen investigators received internal support to launch and expand their research endeavors.
Spring 2025 awardees
Eileen Chang, PhD
Welch Family Pilot Award
Tricia Huguelet, MD
Children’s Colorado-University of Colorado/School of Mines Collaboration Pilot Award
Charles Simpkin, DO
Owen McKinnon Pilot Award for Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Research
Hui Zhang, MD, PhD
Owen McKinnon Pilot Award for Pediatric Pulmonary Hypertension Research
Jennifer Romanowicz, MD
Second Year Research and Innovation Scholar Award
Kathleen Hannan, MD, MSCS
Second Year Research and Innovation Scholar Award
Julia Boster, MD, MSCS
Second Year Research and Innovation Scholar Award
Nicole Poole, MD, MPH
Second Year Research and Innovation Scholar Award
Stephanie Gilley, MD, PhD
Second Year Bruce and Bev Wagner Family Research and Innovation Scholar Award
Brad Constant, MD, MSCS
Second Year Bruce and Bev Wagner Family Research and Innovation Scholar Award
Fall 2025 awardees
Jessica Bloom, MD, MSCS
Research and Innovation Scholar Award
Dustin Nash, MD
Research and Innovation Scholar Award
Natalie Nokoff, MD, PhD
Child Health Research Bridge Funding Supplement Award
Shanlee Davis, MD, PhD
Child Health Research Bridge Funding Supplement Award
Ryan Kammeyer, MD
Second Year Research and Innovation Scholar Award
Stories of impact
Behind every study and breakthrough are stories that inspire change. Our patient stories, media moments and research feature stories highlight the power of research to advance science, change the lives of our patients and make a lasting impact on our community.
“Caring for patients is much more than managing their symptoms — it’s working to establish innovative, personalized care that incorporates the latest research findings. Our partnerships across the campus on behalf of child health research accelerate our capabilities to benefit our patients and their families.”JENAE NEIMAN, RN, MBA, VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH OPERATIONS
Education and awareness
Juliette was just 3 years old when she started her first clinical trial with Children’s Colorado. Her experience was so positive, she signed up for another. Now, Juliette and her mom are sharing their research journey with the community to educate and raise awareness of the life-changing impact of clinical trials.
For additional information about research and clinical trials, families can read more in an article the CCHRI team helped produce from Children’s Colorado’s parenting resource, Just Ask Children’s, called “Everything Parents Need to Know About Research and Clinical Trials.”
Research story highlights
Our Q: Advances and Answers in Pediatric Health blog covers research, innovation and thought leadership from across our disciplines at Children’s Colorado. Stories published in 2025 highlight everything from our multidisciplinary care to how our investigators are redefining treatment.
Research in the media
This year, our research made headlines with stories that resonated across Colorado and reached audiences nationwide.
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Children's Hospital ColoradoNovel immunologic surveillance study provides new insights into post-pandemic return of respiratory virusesAugust 07, 2025
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KRDO News13 Colorado SpringsChildren’s Hospital partners with Denver Broncos Foundation to research female flag footballJuly 31, 2025
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Colorado Public RadioColorado researchers warn of lost advances and a lost generation of scientists due to federal cutsMarch 19, 2025