Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research Winter 2015 President s Corner: Sonia Hernandez-Diaz Denver 2015, an evidence-based conference Dear colleagues, I send with this le er my best wishes of health and happiness to you and your families for 2015. In my nomina on I wrote that SPER would maintain the focus on cu ng-edge methods and on the development of trainees; and that I wanted to increase our emphasis on research to guide health care prac ce and policy. On these founda- ons we are laying the next SPER conference. However, to prac ce what we preach, we also collected data to build an evidence-based event. As you may remember, we sent a brief survey asking our membership for feedback on past conferences and ideas on how to improve them. For example, our members asked for more hands-on workshops, more space for networking, more lively debates and more interac on with experts. They also gave specific ideas on topics. Thank you all very much for the very helpful comments, which will be considered for each sec on of the mee ng. The Pre-conference Advanced Methods Workshops on Monday morning will include a session on applica ons of spa al modeling to perinatal and pediatric data by Dr. Michael Kramer and a session on the modeling of mul ple exposures by Con nued on page 2 Newsle er Highlights: President s Corner (pp. 1-2) 2015 Pre-Mee ng Workshop Preview (p. 2) Call for SPER Execu ve Commi ee Nomina- ons (p. 3) Call for submissions for 2015 awards: Heinz Berendes Interna onal Travel Award (p. 4) Student Prize Paper (p. 5) Mentoring Award (p. 6) Rising Star Award (p. 7) MARK YOUR CALENDARS: 2015 SPER ANNUAL MEETING DEADLINES OF INTEREST The deadline for all submissions is 5:00 PM PT on the scheduled day. Friday, March 13 2015 Heinz Berendes Interna onal Travel Award Student Prize Paper Award Friday, April 10, 2015 Rising Star Award Mentoring Award For more informa on: h p://sper.org/awards.html SAVE THE DATE! 2015 Annual Mee ng June 15 16, 2015 Denver, CO The Grand Hya Denver Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research - 1
President s Corner: Sonia Hernandez-Diaz ( con nued from Page 1) Drs. Franco Momoli and Jillian Ashley-Mar n. We will kick-off officially that evening with a welcome recep on, debate and poster session. An outstanding panel of experts will debate the Valid use of Big Data for pediatric and perinatal epidemiology. Please send us specific methodological or controversial aspects you may want us to discuss. The poster sessions will be organized into topics and clearly mapped; there will be tours with designated mes. To combine our scien fic and social goals, both the recep on and the networking tables will be placed near the posters area. Con nuing with Martha Werler s ini a ve, we will have didac c Breakfast Roudtables on clinical aspects of reproduc ve, obstetric and pediatric condi ons. We will invite clinical colleagues to lead these sessions. Please send us requests for topics you would like to see covered. The Plenary Sessions on Tuesday will highlight specific methods and will have applica ons as examples (selected from abstracts). Some sessions will have an overview and an interac- ve panel discussion in addi on to the podium presenta ons. Our Keynote speaker will be Dr. Wanda D. Barfield, director of the Division of Reproduc ve Health within the Na onal Center for Chronic Disease Preven on and Health Promo on at CDC. She will address the ques on Are we asking the right ques ons for increasing healthy pregnancies and improving pediatric health? The SPER Express is moving. First stop, Denver June 2015. Pack your most exci ng work, cri cal mind and running shoes (read on for more details). All aboard! 2015 ADVANCED METHODS WORKSHOP We are pleased to announce that this year s Advanced Methods Workshop will include presenta ons on applica ons of spa al modeling to perinatal and pediatric data and the modeling of mul ple exposures. Dr. Michael Kramer will present on applica ons of spa al modeling to perinatal and pediatric data. Dr. Kramer is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Emory University s Rollins School of Public where he teaches methods in social epidemiology and maternal and child health epidemiology. Dr. Franco Momoli and Dr. Jillian Ashley-Mar n will present on the modeling of mul ple exposures. Dr. Momoli is an Associate Scien st in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at O awa Hospital Research Ins tute and at the Children s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Ins tute. Dr. Momoli is currently a scien st in the interna onal MOBI-Kids study, examining the causes of brain tumors in children. Dr. Ashley-Mar n is a Research Associate in the Perinatal Epidemiology Research Unit at the IWK Health Centre and recently completed her disserta on on prenatal exposure to mul ple environmental contaminants and newborn immune system biomarkers. When you register for the mee ng, don t forget to register for the Advanced Methods Workshop! h p://www.sper.org/mee ng/reginfo.html Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research - 2
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: SPER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Service Promotion Experience Recognition Nomina ons are being sought for President (2015-2018), one Member-at-Large (2015-2019), and SPER Student Representa ve (2015-2016). All terms will begin at the close of the June 2015 Annual Mee ng. Members of SPER are encouraged to nominate themselves or any other member of SPER to run for these posi ons, and help our Society achieve con nued success through this opportunity for professional service. The President will serve as President-Elect (2015-2016), President (2016-2017) and Past President (2017-2018). The main du es of the President-Elect are to help the President develop plans for the Annual Mee ng and to chair the selec on of the Student Prize Paper Award recipient; the President designs the program for the Annual Mee ng and is in charge of Execu ve Commi ee decision-making; and the Past President chairs the selec on of the Heinz Berendes Interna onal Travel Award recipient and provides input as needed. The Member-at-Large par cipates in all Execu ve Commi ee ac vi es. The Member-at-Large elected this cycle will be responsible for coordina ng Nomina ons and Elec ons, and will replace Brian Whitcomb. The Student Representa ve par cipates in Execu ve Commi ee mee ngs, encourages and facilitates student par cipa on in SPER and works on the Advanced Methods Workshop, which precedes the Annual Mee ng. This member will replace Audrey Flak. This call for nomina ons will be posted on the SPER web-site. Nomina ons are due by March 6, 2015 and should be sent to Brian Whitcomb at bwhitcomb@schoolph.umass.edu. You can also contact Brian for more informa on by email or by phone at (413) 577-7440. The slate of candidates and ballot will be presented to the membership for electronic vo ng to take place in April. ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, RUN; Join us for the first ever "Epidemiologists Run for your Lives" 5k run/walk on Wednesday, June 17th, 2015 in Denver, Colorado! All types of walkers and runners--beginners, marathoners, and everyone in between--are welcome to register and join us for this exci ng event. The cost of par- cipa on plus a commemora ve T-shirt will be $10. The registra on form will be available online when you register for SPER. We look forward to running with you! Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research - 3
2015 HEINZ BERENDES INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL AWARD The Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research (SPER) requests submissions of manuscripts for the Heinz Berendes Interna onal Travel Award. The manuscript should represent work in reproduc ve, perinatal, or pediatric epidemiology, as well as research that concerns popula ons in developing countries. The winner will present the selected paper at the SPER Annual Mee ng. An award of $250 plus expenses for travel, two days lodging, and SPER Annual Mee ng registra on will be given to the author of the paper. Eligibility - To be eligible for this award, the applicant should have completed this work outside of the U.S. or Canada and should not have resided in the U.S. or Canada. The paper must be unpublished at the me of submission. Authors do not have to be SPER members to apply for the award but are asked to join SPER if selected for presenta on. Submission - The submi ed manuscript should be prepared according to the Author Guidelines in the journal Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology (PPE). The submission deadline is Friday, March 13, 2015 at 5pm Pacific Time. The following required document must be submi ed with the applica on in PDF format: 1. Manuscript in PPE format - saved as a PDF file 2. Name and address of academic affilia on or research establishment 3. Country of residence for previous six months Evalua on of Applica ons - Applica ons will be evaluated by a commi ee chaired by the SPER Past-President. The commi ee will be composed of the SPER Past-President, and 4 members of SPER chosen at the discre on of the SPER Past-President. The paper will be evaluated according to 5 dis nct criteria: originality, soundness of analy cal methods, biological ra onale, global impact, and public health importance. The winner of the award will have a poster presenta on describing their research. Previous Recipients: 2009: Monique Robinson (Australia) 2010: Darya Gaysina (England) 2011: Marlene van Gelder (the Netherlands) 2012: Francisco Schneuer (Australia) 2013: Yuen Ye (Cathy) Lee (Australia) 2014: Jessica Tearne (Australia) Note: Nominated research must be submi ed separately as an abstract in order for it to be considered for presenta- on in the event that it is not selected for the award. Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research - 4
2015 SPER STUDENT PRIZE PAPER AWARD The Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research (SPER) requests manuscript submissions for considera on for the annual Student Prize Paper Award. This compe on is open to graduate and medical students, postdoctoral fellows, medical residents, research trainees, and clinical fellows interested in reproduc ve, perinatal, and pediatric epidemiology. The winner of the award will present the selected paper at the SPER Annual Mee ng. An award of $500 plus expenses for travel, two days lodging, and SPER Annual Mee ng registra on will be given to the author of the selected paper. Eligibility - To be eligible for student status at the mee ng, individuals must be students, trainees, or fellows at an academic or research ins tu on at the me of the submission. Documenta on of student or trainee status is required. The submi ed paper must be wri en by and represent work in reproduc ve, perinatal, or pediatric epidemiology conducted by the student/trainee during the two years before that upcoming mee ng. In addi on, the paper must not be published as of the March deadline, but it can be submi ed to a journal by that date. The submission deadline is Friday, March 13, 2015 at 5pm Pacific Time. The following required documents must be submi ed with the applica on in ONE PDF file: 1. Manuscript in format of Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology journal (see author guidelines) 2. Le er of support from mentor under whom the work was completed indica ng student or trainee's specific contribu on The author may submit the paper simultaneously to the Abraham Lillienfeld Student Prize Paper compe on of the Society for Epidemiologic Research (SER); however, if the paper is selected for that award, it will not be eligible for the SPER award. Authors do not have to be SPER members to apply for the award but are asked to join SPER if selected for presenta on. Evalua on of Applica ons - Applica ons will be evaluated by a commi ee chaired by the SPER President-Elect. The commi ee will be composed of the SPER President-Elect, and 4 members of SPER chosen at the discre on of the SPER President-Elect. The paper will be evaluated according to 6 dis nct criteria: originality, soundness of analy cal methods, biological ra onale, involvement of student in data collec on, le er of support from mentor, and public health importance. Previous Recipients: 2009: Mahsa Yazdy (Boston University) 2010: Jennifer Hutcheon (University of Bri sh Columbia) 2011: Sunni Mumford (NICHD) 2012: Candice Johnson (Emory University) 2013: Jenny Carwile (Harvard University) 2014: Quaker E. Harmon (NIEHS) Note: Nominated research must be submi ed separately as an abstract in order for it to be considered for presenta- on in the event that it is not selected for the award. Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research - 5
2015 SPER Mentoring Award This award is to recognize the importance of dedicated and skilled mentors in the development of reproduc ve, pediatric, and perinatal epidemiologists (RPPE) at all levels. The nominees will be evaluated based on proficiency in mentoring skills, dedica on to mentoring, and a en on to advisee development both technically, professionally, and personally in the field of RPPE epidemiology. Nominees should demonstrate effec ve people skills, mo vate and inspire the mentee to excel, and should serve as a role model, teaching and demonstra ng high standards of performance and integrity. A $500 prize is awarded. Eligibility - Individuals with an established career from academia, government, or the private sector are eligible. Candidates should be at the Associate Professor rank or above if in academia or at an equivalent senior rank in government agencies or industry. Nominees must be SPER members in good standing. The submission deadline is Friday, April 10, 2015 at 5pm Pacific Time. The following required documents must be submi ed with the applica on in ONE PDF file: 1. A le er of nomina on from a SPER member 2. No more than two addi onal le ers from persons who have been or currently are being mentored by the nominee (including but not limited to student advisees, junior faculty, or staff) 3. The nominee s curriculum vitae including a list of mentoring ac vi es (trainees, junior faculty, and staff) Evalua on of Applica ons - Nomina ons will be evaluated by a commi ee chaired by the SPER President-Elect. The commi ee will be composed of the SPER President-Elect, and 4 members of SPER chosen at the discre on of the SPER President-Elect. Individuals will be evaluated according to 4 dis nct criteria: evidence of mentee's success, le ers of recommenda on, contribu ons to the field as a mentor, and par cipa on in SPER ac vi es. There is an important dis nc on between academic standing and mentoring accomplishments. This award is intended to highlight individuals as mentors only. Nomina on packages will be considered for 1 year a er nomina on and will be automa cally re-evaluated as a candidate for the next selec on of the Mentor Award. It is at the discre on of the nominator to update any relevant informa on. Previous Recipients: 2009: Michael Kramer (Canadian Ins tutes of Health Research; McGill University) 2010: Germaine Buck Louis (NICHD) 2011: Pauline Mendola (NICHD) 2012: Martha Werler (Boston University) 2013: Sven Cna ngius (Karolinska Ins tutet) 2014: K.S. Joseph (University of Bri sh Columbia) Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research - 6
2015 SPER Rising Star Award This award is to recognize early to mid-career inves gators whose achievements and poten al set them on a trajectory to become research leaders in the field of reproduc ve, perinatal, and pediatric epidemiology. Overall research contribu ons thus far, including publica ons, presenta ons, and influence on the field will be considered. An addi- onal important considera on is the candidate s likely future role, as his/her career con nues to evolve. SPER registra on will be covered for the winner and a $500 prize is awarded. Eligibility - Early to mid-career inves gators from academia, government, or the private sector are eligible. Candidates should be at the Assistant to Associate Professor rank if in academia (more advanced than post-doctoral fellow, but not at the full professor level) or an equivalent employment status if outside academia. The me since the highest degree should be no more than 7 years. Poten al candidates may be nominated by any SPER member, however, the nominated individuals are responsible for submi ng the Rising Star package outlined below. Candidates must be current members of SPER in good standing. The submission deadline is Friday, April 10, 2015 at 5pm Pacific Time. The following required documents must be submi ed with the applica on in ONE PDF file: 1. A le er of nomina on from a SPER member outlining specific achievements and career trajectory 2. Copies of the nominee s three most important publica ons 3. The nominee s curriculum vitae 4. Maximum of two le ers of recommenda on Evalua on of Applica ons - Nomina ons will be evaluated by a commi ee chaired by the SPER President-Elect. The commi ee will be composed of the SPER President-Elect, and 4 members of SPER chosen at the discre on of the SPER President-Elect. Individuals will be evaluated according to 4 dis nct criteria: originality of the body of work supported only by the three papers submi ed with the applica on, involvement in SPER ac vi es, strength of le ers of nomina on and recommenda on, and evalua on of curriculum vitae (for evidence of outstanding accomplishment in a short period of me and a posi ve trajectory). Previous Recipients: 2009: Emily Oken (Harvard University) 2010: Cuilin Zhang (NICHD) 2012: Tyler VanderWeele (Harvard University) 2013: Jennifer Hutcheon (University of Bri sh Columbia) 2014: Sunni L. Mumford (NICHD) Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research - 7
EXCITING NEWS SPER Member Grant Review Service We are excited to launch a new grant review process for SPER member applicants by SPER member reviewers. You ll soon receive a solicita on to sign up as a poten al reviewer, to be followed by an invita on to submit an applica on for review. We will require a 90-day lead me in advance of the deadline for the applica on to be submi ed to the funding agency, so start planning now! NOW AVAILABLE Advanced Methods Workshop Archives The SPER Advanced Methods Workshop is held every year prior to the annual mee ng. With permission from the presenters, pdfs from the last 5 years workshops are now available to SPER members online. They are stored in the Members Only sec on of the SPER website under Mee ng Resources. We hope you find these presenta ons useful. If you have any ques ons please contact aflak@emory.edu. Many thanks to our wonderful presenters for allowing us to share their work! SPER Stars SPER would like to congratulate Dr. Mary L. Hediger on being the recipient of the 2014 Agnes Higgins Award! The March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award recognizes achievement in research, educa on, or clinical services in the field of maternal-fetal nutri on. Dr. Hediger was honored as a researcher and educator whose work changed nutri onal guidelines to improve the health of pregnant teens and women carrying twins. 2016 Epidemiology Congress of the Americas June 20 24, 2016 Miami Hya, Miami, Florida Have you shown SPER how much you like it? Please take a minute to visit SPER s Facebook page. It is a great way to stay up-to-date with everything going on in the Society. Plans for the Congress mee ng in June 2016 are underway. SPER will meet the two days before, as usual, but will also play an ac ve role in the three-day Congress mee ng. SPER is a primary sponsor of the Congress, Martha Werler and Robert Pla sit on the Execu ve Commi ee, and SPER past-president Russ Kirby is the Congress Program Chair. SPER representa ves sit on all planning commi ees, including those charged with development, plenary sessions, symposia, and student/ early career sessions. You can look forward to at least one symposium and one plenary session sponsored by SPER. Society for Pediatric and Perinatal Epidemiologic Research - 8