MaineHealth has received a five-year, $2.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to join the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) IDeA States Pediatric Clinical Trials Network (ISPCTN). The research network addresses disparities in pediatric research by including children from rural or underserved populations in clinical trials and by building pediatric research capacity in states like Maine and New Hampshire with historically less NIH funding.

Currently, MaineHealth offers a wide variety of clinical trials to adult patients. However, Maine, like many rural states, lacks the infrastructure to offer many clinical trials to children because of the small number of eligible participants living here. Joining the ECHO-ISPCTN through this project, known as ECHO-ME, allows MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (MHBBCH) to enroll patients in numerous multi-center pediatric clinical trials with patients from several other rural states.

“Bringing the ECHO-ISPCTN clinical trials to Maine and eastern New Hampshire is an incredible opportunity to address health conditions that disproportionately impact children in rural communities,” said Dr. Alexa Craig, one of the principal investigators of ECHO-ME, pediatric neurologist at MHBBCH and director of the MHBBCH Scholars Academy. “Equally exciting is the chance to mentor and support newer investigators, equipping them with the skills to design and lead clinical trials that will improve care for children across our state.”

Joining the ECHO-ISPCTN also allows MaineHealth researchers to propose new clinical studies of conditions impacting children in rural communities in Maine and eastern New Hampshire such as asthma, obesity and mental health challenges. MHBBCH plans to partner with public health officials, community advocates and families to develop and propose studies.

“Collaborating with partners across our state will allow MaineHealth to design pediatric clinical trials that address the health challenges that matter most to the families we serve,” said Dr. Laura Faherty, the other principal investigator of ECHO-ME, an associate director of the MHBBCH Scholars Academy, a general pediatrician, and senior policy researcher at RAND. “This grant gives Maine and eastern New Hampshire an important seat at the table in advancing children’s health.”

Dr. Craig previously led research studies supported by NIH infrastructure grants to MaineHealth such as the Northern New England Clinical and Translational Research Network and the Center of Biomedical Research Excellence in Acute Care Research and Rural Disparities.

“NIH funding is critical to MaineHealth’s ability to fulfil its mission,” said Dr. Jessica Chertow, vice president of the MaineHealth Institute for Research. “In the current NIH funding environment where success rates are historically low, earning a grant of this size reflects the strength, innovation and national recognition of MaineHealth’s pediatric research program.”

Research reported in this publication was supported by The Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program, Office of The Director, National Institutes of Health under Award Number UG1 OD037941. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include MaineGeneral Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Health System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.