273 - Pediatric Disaster Science, Engaging All of Us; Priorities, Gaps, Opportunities, Strategies, Workforce and Infrastructure

Poster Number: 273
Publication Number: 273.453

Debra L.. Weiner, Boston Childrens Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States; Christopher Newton, UCSF Department of Surgery, Oakland, CA, United States; Lori Peek, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States; Jeffrey S.. Upperman, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States; Cinnamon A. Dixon, NICHD, Bethesda, MD, United States

Background:

Pediatric disaster science is critical to provide data and discovery for evidence-based preparedness and response that best serves, children, families and society. There is unprecedented imperative, focus on, and opportunity to build a sustained pediatric disaster research workforce and infrastructure. Identifying and addressing pediatric specific disaster research considerations and engaging stakeholders is integral to effective, efficient, ethical, high quality pediatric disaster science and its implementation.

Objective:

1. To present pediatric specific disaster research considerations identified at a National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Pediatric Disaster Science Symposium.


2. To engage AAP/SPR members at PAS 2023 in further discussion regarding pediatric disaster science priorities, workforce and infrastructure.

Design/Methods: A Pediatric Disaster Science Symposium was convened by NASEM as a 2-day hybrid in-person/virtual meeting August 2022. Forty-eight speakers, collectively representing government and nongovernment organizations, academia, and community were invited, and the meeting was open for online attendance. The audience was polled electronically each day regarding research priorities related to talks that day. Presentations were recorded for review of themes.

Results: Symposium themes included the importance, history and scope of pediatric disaster science, and research priorities, gaps, opportunities and strategies. Research considerations specific to children’s medical and psychosocial vulnerabilities and manifestations included ethics and protections; protocol development and deployment; validated research tools; data collection and management; and community engagement. Pediatric specific scientific methodology considerations were identified regarding basic science, clinical research, biomedical engineering, digital technology, dissemination/implementation, public health, and applied sciences. Infrastructure considerations included leveraging regional pediatric disaster centers of excellence, disaster response teams/organizations, and research networks integratively; training, building, engaging and funding a multidisciplinary, sustainable pediatric disaster focused scientist workforce; and optimizing the pediatric research regulatory environment and advocacy. Symposium attendees identified research priorities across themes.

Conclusion(s): The meeting provided insights that could inform developing research priorities, strategies, workforce, infrastructure, and guiding principles. Further input is required including from AAP/SPR members.