UCLA K12 Child Health Research Career Development Award
Shafali S. Jeste, MD
Principal Investigator
Professor and Mattel Executive Endowed Chair
Department of Pediatrics
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Executive Medical Director, Pediatrics, UCLA Health System
Executive Director, UCLA Children’s Discovery & Innovation Institute
Sherin U. Devaskar, MD
Principal Investigator
Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics
Mattel Executive Endowed Chair,
Department of Pediatrics
Steven Mittelman, MD, PhD
Training Director
Chief and Solomon A. and Maria M. Kaplan Chair of Pediatric Endocrinology
Professor of Pediatrics
Associate Vice Chair for Translational Research, UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute
UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, David Geffen School of Medicine
The UCLA Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute (CDI) and the Department of Pediatrics are proud to offer a comprehensive yet targeted two-year K12 training program for pediatric physician-scientists, focusing on training bench-based researchers to become successful investigators and future pediatric academic leaders. With a strong 29-year track record, the training program combines nurturing, rigorous mentoring, and individual training plans with core research experience and career development. Scholars benefit from access to world-class mentors, cohort mentoring, departmental and institutional support, and a vibrant scientific community. The program aims to enhance the number and success of pediatric physician-scientists conducting innovative research to improve child health. Key goals include enhancing mentoring excellence, leveraging institutional infrastructure, fostering entrepreneurship, and synergizing with other UCLA training programs. The program targets faculty with ≥75% research time and includes skill-building in academic advancement, leadership, communication, and research strategy. CDI senior faculty provide ongoing mentorship and facilitate peer networking.
This grant awards up to $125,000 each year for two years to support junior faculty generating preliminary data for future NIH K08/K23 applications. Eligible applicants must have a full-time appointment in the Department of Pediatrics, be within two years of completing their most recent fellowship, and have 75% protected research time. Projects must be basic or translational in nature and emphasize cross-departmental collaboration.
For more information:
Addy Maldonado, Administrator, Department of Pediatrics [email protected]
Congratulations to the Recent Scholars
Bassem M. Shoucri, MD, PhD
Pediatric Endocrinology
2026-2027
Leveraging human genetics to identify mediators of adipose distribution and expansion in type 2 diabetes
Mentor: Peter Tontonoz, MD, PhD
Kenny Vo, MD
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
2026-2027
Engineering Novel LRRC15-specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells to Target Osteosarcoma
Mentor: Yvonne Chen, PhD