SIGs

Special Interest Groups (SIG)

SIG Groups

Just in case you are interested in trying out something new - take a look at our CHLN Special Interest Groups Each of the groups would welcome new members. We generally meet quarterly for an hour (virtually for now) to keep each other abreast of our work, discuss new research in the area, and brainstorm about potential collaborations. The meetings are informal. If you want to join a group, we have added the contact name for each group below. Let us know if you have any questions, and happy collaborating!

CHLN Special Interest Groups

The Caregiver Wellbeing

The Caregiver Wellbeing SIG is a multidisciplinary group of researchers, clinicians, and community members focused on addressing the mental and physical health needs of caregivers of children with medical complexity and/or disability.

(Contact: Dana Bakula. dmbakula@cmh.edu)

Special Populations Group

This interdisciplinary team of scientists and practitioners is focused generally on the promotion of healthy lifestyles in persons with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down syndrome, and other intellectual and Developmental Disabilities as well as their parents/caregivers. We have strengths in metabolism, promotion and assessment of physical activity, assessment of dietary intake, clinical trial design, and clinical weight management.

(contact: Amy Bodde abodde@kumc.edu)

Obesity, Physical Activity & Implementation of Lifestyle Interventions Group

This group is broadly interested in exploring collaborative opportunities and sharing expertise related to lifestyle interventions for obesity, physical activity, and nutrition. Members have a broad range of expertise including behavioral interventions in children and adults, social determinants of health, clinical and community-based interventions, community-based participatory research, implementation science, technology-based interventions and measurement, family-based interventions, and prevention.

(contacts: Helena Laroche hhlaroche@cmh.edu and Jordan Carlson jacarlson@cmh.edu)

Maternal / Child Early Nutrition Group

This interdisciplinary team of scientists and practitioners is focused generally on pregnancy and early child nutrition/healthy lifestyles. We have strengths in breastfeeding, measurement (DxA, Hyperpalatable Foods, Mealtime Synchrony, etc.), as well as mouse models of early life stress, human cognitive neuroscience, tube feeding in children, nutrition literacy, and in interventions with typically developing and medically complicated children as well as in novel settings like the NICU.

(contact: Ann Davis adavis6@kumc.edu).

Translational Research Group

This interdisciplinary research team will highlight the work of a clinical scientist and a basic scientist in each meeting, on a single topic related to healthy lifestyles/obesity.