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Research Opportunities

There are multiple opportunities avenues for residents to be involved in research at Children’s National Hospital! If you are interested in applying to our dedicated research track, please read more about the CN Research Track.

Residents in any of our other educational tracks (Categorical, Primary Care, LAUnCH, Genetics, Neurology) can expand their exposure to research via the following opportunities.

REACH Program: Research, Education, Advocacy and Child Health Care Program

The Robert H. Parrott REACH program is named after a distinguished former chair of pediatrics who was an internationally recognized pediatrician, researcher and leader. Dr. Parrott led the transformation of our institution from a community-based hospital for children into the large, academic quaternary-care center that we are today.

REACH stands for Research, Education, Advocacy and Child Health Care, which are the cornerstone elements of this program. At the end of their first year of residency, residents apply for a half-day per week of protected research time in the second and third years of training. Since its inception in 2000, residents have pursued a variety of clinical, advocacy, and educational topics under the direct mentorship of Children’s National clinical and research faculty. Each year, many of our residents publish their REACH projects in peer-reviewed journals and present them at major national meetings. REACH scholarly activity serves to set our residents apart on the job and fellowship market after residency.

Check out our Residents’ Scholarly Activity 2021-2022. You can also peruse the Resident Scholarly Project Summary 2021-2022.

CNStARR Program

CNStARR is designed for residents who are committed to an academic research career. Residents apply for CNStARR once they have already completed a portion of their residency. CNStARR allows for 12-24 months of research to be integrated into 3 years of general pediatrics residency for an extended total 4-5 years of training. It provides funding for the resident’s protected research time as well a $20,000 annual stipend for research costs and training/career development coursework. Similar to the CN Research Track, mentorship is an essential component of CNStARR. In addition to the resident’s primary mentor and mentorship committee, the CNStARR executive committee provides another level of oversight and advising to ensure the resident’s future success as a clinician scientist. Appointment to CNStARR is based on a competitive application process. Qualifications include prior research experience (many will have graduate or Ph.D. degrees in addition to their medical degree) and/or evidence of a sustained research effort or interest.

There are 2 training pathways within CNStARR:

36 Month Pathway via the American Board of Pediatrics’ Integrated Research Pathway

The Integrated Research Pathway (IRP) is an American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) approved mechanism for pediatric residency training and is designed for residents who have earned an M.D. (with substantial research experience) or M.D./Ph.D. degrees and who are committed to an academic research career.

Key components of the IRP program:

  • The IRP allows for 11 months of research to be integrated into 3 years of general pediatrics residency prior to entering a 3-year fellowship in a pediatric subspecialty.
  • IRP residents will parallel traditional clinical residency for most of the first year.
  • Residents will spend a total of 11 months out of the 3-year residency in research training opportunities. Research training months will be maximized in the final 2 years of residency.
  • Continuity clinic continues weekly throughout the three years.
  • Indication, from the candidate's PL-1 in-training exam score, that he or she will probably be able to pass the American Board of Pediatrics Certifying Exam without a third year of general pediatric clinical training.
  • Candidates must be approved by the American Board of Pediatrics during the first nine months of the PL-1 year.
  • Applicants accepted into the IRP will automatically become CNStARR scholars and receive financial support, mentorship, supplementary research and professional development activities offered through the program.

48-60 Month Pathway

CNStARR scholars may also pursue a mentored research experience lasting a total of 12-24 months that is integrated into their required 36 months of pediatric clinical training. These research months would occur in minimum three-month blocks and would begin no earlier than the second year of pediatric residency. With the integrated research months, the total pediatric residency period would extend to 48-60 months and would end with a minimum of three months of clinical training.

Contact Us

Interested in learning more? Contact Andrea Hahn, M.D.

Research Education and Innovation (REI) Week

Each year, Children’s National Research Institute (CNRI) hosts Research, Education and Innovation Week to showcase the wide array of research and education programs occurring throughout the institution. The 12th annual Research, Education and Innovation Week was held April 4-8, 2022, with abstract submission and virtual poster flash-talks. The dates for the spring 2023 REI Week are to be determined, and will be updated here once they are finalized.

View our resident submissions to 2021 REI Week.