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Dear Dr. ,
Since stepping into the role of SPR President in June, I have been honored to serve this community of outstanding investigators focused upon pediatric-related research. I hope the Society plays an important part in your career as it has for me, and I will work hard with our leadership to continue to provide exceptional value for you.
To make that happen, amid all the uncertainty that is happening in our field, I’m excited to share updates from the recent SPR Executive Council Meeting that reflect our strategic priorities and continued commitment to you, our members.
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Expanding the Bridging to Success Award: We are launching a new cycle for the Bridging to Success Award with an expanded commitment. SPR will now offer up to four awards annually, which doubles our previous direct support to early-stage investigators. As funding mechanisms continue to shift and many of us face heightened challenges in securing grant support, we believe this increased investment will provide meaningful, timely assistance to promising pediatric-focused researchers.
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Strengthening Our Advocacy Efforts: In response to priorities identified by the SPR Advocacy Committee, SPR joined a new coalition to help push for a strong NIH, which includes advocating for appropriate funding in the FY26 federal appropriations cycle. As part of the steering group, SPR partners with leaders from AAP, APS, APA, the Children’s Hospital Association, and the Coalition for Pediatric Medical Research (CPMR), and will engage additional organizations as efforts progress. Please be on the lookout for ways you can help efforts to ensure a strong and supportive NIH.
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Creating a New Collaboration & Learning Experience: SPR and the European Society for Paediatric Research (ESPR) are proud to co-host a new global forum designed to foster critical dialogue among leading experts across continents called Paediatric Research for the Future of Children (PRFC). The inaugural PRFC will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, February 11-13, 2026. I’d like to thank SPR’s co-leads for the meeting, Ann Chahroudi, MD, PhD, from Emory University, and Lois Lee, MD MPH, from Boston Children’s Hospital, as well as several other SPR members who are contributing to the Scientific Committee and as speakers. This conference is directed toward investigators at all stages of career, each of whom should benefit from the intimate setting that will afford terrific opportunities for interaction.
To help support early-career participation, SPR leadership approved offering up to 10 Travel Awards of $1,000 each to support the highest scoring abstracts submitted by early-career investigators from North America. We hope these awards encourage broad participation and help researchers share their research on a global stage. The forum is open to everyone, and registration will open mid-October.
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Growing Through New Opportunities to Participate and New Committees: Earlier this year, SPR announced a call for National Leadership Service Opportunities. We were thrilled to receive interest from 75 members interested in expanding their participation—thank you for your dedication and service to SPR.
In alignment with our 2024-28 strategic plan, SPR established three new committees that will guide and implement key initiatives. These new committees, and their respective Chairs, are:
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Pediatric Scientist Development Committee
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Organizational Partnerships Committee
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Membership & Engagement Committee
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Redefining Our Online Presence: We are currently undergoing a full website redesign aimed at making SPR’s digital presence intuitive, engaging, and aligned with our vision. SPR is collaborating with a small group of members through a Website Redesign Task Force to ensure the redesign reflects your needs. We appreciate the time and effort of that Task Force and look forward to unveiling the new site later this year.
Thank you for your continued commitment to pediatric research and to the SPR community. I look forward to working together throughout the year ahead.
All my best, |
