RESEARCH PORTFOLIO

Epidemiologic Investigation of Child Restraint Installation Position and Serious Injury among Children in Motor Vehicle Crashes

Principal Investigator: Rachel Myers, PhD

The goal of this study is to create a unique source of epidemiologic crash data that enables novel description of use and installation patterns of child restraints among crash-involved children and— following linkage with hospital discharge and death certificate data—novel description of child occupant injury outcomes based on restraint use and installation (rear- vs. forward-facing).

2011-2012

Clavicle Fractures Due to Belt Loading in Rear-Seated Adolescent Occupants: Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

The objectives of this research are to investigate the fracture tolerance of the pediatric clavicle through statistical, analytical, and radiological techniques. Using information obtained from crash data, the study will examine the sensitivity of the pediatric shoulder's response to belt loading in both oblique and frontal loading scenarios.
Clavicle Fractures Due to Belt Loading in Rear-Seated Adolescent Occupants: Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD

The objectives of this research are to investigate the fracture tolerance of the pediatric clavicle through statistical, analytical, and radiological techniques. Using information obtained from crash data, the study will examine the sensitivity of the pediatric shoulder's response to belt loading in both oblique and frontal loading scenarios.
Biomechanical Response of the Pediatric Ankle: Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

Data obtained in this study will provide information on the mechanics of the pediatric ankle joint. Using data regarding the geometry, range of motion, and static/dynamic responses of the ankle, the biofidelity of child ATDs can be improved. Accomplishing a biofidelic response in the child's ankle joint will improve the response of the entire lower extremity, resulting in more accurate prediction of pediatric injury.

2010-2011

Effect of Distraction on Teen Driving Performance in an Emotionally Realistic Driving Simulator: Principal Investigator: Yi-Ching Lee, PhD

The objectives of this research are to: (1) create in-vehicle stressful tasks to distract teen drivers while measuring teens' abilities to handle environmental stressful events, and (2) measure teens' beliefs and behaviors about in-vehicle distractions by measuring their risk-taking and decision-making characteristics.
Head Injury Contact Points for Children Seated on the Rear Rows in Frontal Crashes: Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD

The objective of this study is to delineate head/face injury causation scenarios for rear-seated, restrained children in frontal crashes and create a contact map of the vehicle interior.
Examining Cognitive Variables and Decision-making Strategies Related to Adolescent Driver Performance: Principal Investigator: Jessica H. Mirman, PhD

The objective of this study is to understand the interplay between risk perceptions and risky driving behaviors within a peer context and to inform the development of a training program for novice adolescent drivers to prevent risky driving behaviors.
Neurocognitive Evaluation of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Pediatric Emergency Department Population (Multiple Year Project): Principal Investigator: Michael L. Nance, MD

This study applies neurocognitive testing to an emergency department cohort of pediatric patients with mild traumatic brain injury.
Development of Premature Infant Anthropomorphic Test Device (ATD): Principal Investigator: Sriram Balasuramanian, PhD

The goal of the proposed study is to develop a physical model of a premature infant based on geometric data obtained from whole body CT scans. The geometric data will also be used to develop a computational surface model of a premature infant.
Characterization of the Pediatric Shoulder’s Resistance to Various Loading Conditions: Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

The specific aim of this study is to define the dynamic response of the pediatric shoulder by non-invasively analyzing its resistance to lateral impact loading conditions.
Effects of Sleep Restriction on Adolescents’ Pedestrian Safety: Principal Investigator: David Schwebel, PhD

This study investigates whether sleep restriction reduces adolescents’ pedestrian safety.

2009-2010

Neurocognitive Evaluation of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Pediatric Emergency Department Population (Multiple Year Project)

Principal Investigator: Michael L. Nance, MD

This study applies neurocognitive testing to an emergency department cohort of pediatric patients with mild traumatic brain injury.

Understanding the Learning to Drive Process for Teens with High-functioning Developmental Disabilities

The aim of this study is to use a semi-structured interview to gain insight into the parent and teen factors that influence the process of learning to drive.

Association of Body Mass Index and Motor Vehicle Crash Injury Among 4- to 8-year-olds

Principal Investigator: Mark R. Zonfrillo, MD, MSCE

The specific aim of this study is to determine the relative risk of significant injury for 4- to 8-year-old children in motor vehicle crashes who are overweight and underweight, as compared to children who are normal weight.

Distracted Driving in Teens With ADHD

The objective of the proposed research is to examine the driving behavior of teens with Attention-Deficient Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in a virtual simulator during simultaneous engagement in two common distracting conditions: (a) cell phone conversation and (b) a text message task with randomly assigned use of psychostimulant medication across two sessions.

Transforming Traffic Safety Through Autonomic Computing: A Feasibility Study

Principal Investigator: Dennis Durbin, MD, MSCE

Principal Investigator: Dennis Durbin, MD, MSCE, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Below is an executive summary of this project. Please note that this summary describes results and interpretation that may not be final. Final interpretation of results will be in the peer-reviewed literature.

A Novel Approach to Develop Age-equivalent Models for Pediatric Long Bones

Principal Investigator: Sriram Balasuramanian, PhD

The objective of this study is to develop and characterize an age-equivalent animal model based on regional dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and Peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography (pQCT) parameters leveraged from ongoing research at CHOP measuring these parameters on a large sample of real children.

NASS Special Study on Child Occupant Protection

Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD

The goal of this study is to adapt the Partners for Children Passenger Safety (PCPS) data collection instrument to a shorter instrument that can be implemented via phone, web, or via self-administered hard copy, while also developing and evaluating the feasibility of subject selection, contact, and consent procedures.

Child Restraint Systems in Side Impact Crashes: Injury Patterns and Causation (Multiple Year Project)

Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD

The objective of this study is to further understand side impact protection for child restraints through an analysis of the structural interaction between the child restraint system and the vehicle.

Knee Injury Air Bag Risk Assessment for Children

Principal Investigator: John H. Bolte IV, PhD

This study aims to determine what risks, if any, that the knee bolster air bag introduces to front seat child occupants.

2008-2009

Child Restraint Systems in Side Impact Crashes: Injury Patterns and Causation (Multiple Year Project): Principal Investigator: Kristy Arbogast, PhD

The objective of this study is to further understand side impact protection for child restraints through an analysis of the structural interaction between the child restraint system and the vehicle.