Program seeks Council approval for an initiative titled “Translational Research in Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics”.
Despite progress in pediatric and obstetric pharmacology in recent years, knowledge deficits remain in safe and effective treatment of pediatric, obstetric and lactating patients. In addition, advances in drug discovery and development in the past decades have led to new treatment for many diseases. However, most of these new drugs were only developed in the adult and non-pregnant populations. Drug discovery and development in neonates, children, pregnant women and lactating women are lacking.
In the last cycle of this initiative, we funded 11 awards that have broadened our understanding of the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of certain medications for safe and optimal dosing regimens for pediatric and obstetric conditions. Examples are cephalosporins to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in children and mechanisms of altered hepatic drug metabolism and transport in pregnancy. However, much research remains to be done to address the inter-individual variability and the differences of drug action and response within/among neonates, children, pregnant women and lactating women.
The purpose of this initiative is to promote basic, translational and clinical research to (1) advance the understanding of mechanisms of drug action and (2) discover and develop novel therapeutics for safer and more effective medications in neonates, children, pregnant women and lactating women. The overall goal is to improve the safety and effectiveness of medications for precision therapeutics for neonates, children and pregnant and lactating women.
This initiative aligns with the NICHD’s Strategic Plan 2020, particularly Theme 5, which promotes the goal of advancing safe and effective therapeutics and devices for children, pregnant and lactating women, and people with disabilities.
This initiative aligns with the OPPTB’s research priorities to expand the knowledge in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, biomarkers, new drug development and drug repurposing for the treatment of pediatric and obstetric diseases.
Program Contact
Zhaoxia Ren
Obstetric and Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics Branch (OPPTB)
Back to Concept Review by Council
BACK TO TOP