Thank you to all who participated in and attended the 2026 Samuel L. Katz Research Retreat from April 6-8 and helped to make it a success!
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Poster Session and Top Abstract Talks
This year we received a record number of abstract submissions (112)! These were highlighted at our Poster Session and Platform Presentations (Abstract Book). We witnessed a broad selection of presentations from Duke as well as Duke Pediatrics Research Scholars (DPRS+) from Duke–NUS in Singapore. Topics spanned areas including, Genomics of Disease, Medical and Patient Education to Therapeutic Development, Drug Efficacy and Safety research areas.
After a competitive, peer review process, the Top Abstract winners (highest scoring abstracts in each category) were as follows:
- Dr. Ara Jo, a postdoctoral fellow from Dr. Corinne Linardic’s lab kicked off the platform talks by sharing her studies on a long non-coding RNA as novel therapeutic for Rhabdomyosarcoma.
- Josh Lin, an undergraduate student, discussed his results on the use of Cine MRI for evaluation of Duchene Muscular Dystrophy.
- Caroline Kee, graduate student in the School of Nursing, took the stage to share her discoveries on predictors of adolescent retention in an obesity treatment program.
- Dr. Andrew Grose, a Med/Peds resident, closed the platform talks by sharing insights about his work with early papillomavirus vaccination program.
New this year, the retreat featured a Poster Competition. Abstract that scored among the top 20% after peer review were chosen to compete and were reviewed by Faculty judges during the poster session. Thank you to all poster presenters and reviewers who participated! The top three winners of the poster competition were:
- Dr. John Barber, Allergy and Immunology Clinical Fellow (1st place) “Spatially Restricted Recall of Antigen-Specific Memory B Cells Following HIV-1 Env Nanoparticle Immunization”
- Margaret Anne Smith, Medical Student (2nd place) “The price tag of an aortic arch watch”
- Ashley Nmoh, Medical Student (3rd place) “Empowered Transitions: A Community-Engaged, Co-Designed Intervention to Support Black Family Health in Early Infancy”
Special Grand Rounds
April 7 featured a Special Grand Rounds [NetID required] with a keynote address by Dr. Paul Watkins. Dr. Watkins joined us from the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy and addressed the audience with a presentation titled “Novel Approach Methodologies (NAMs) and Pediatric Drug Safety”. His talk was followed by a Keynote Panel Discussion [NetID required] Drs. Watkins, Hornik, and González discussed the opportunities on building quantitative systems toxicology in silico models such as DILIsym and the challenges on applying these technologies to pediatric population.
Conference Practice Talks and Abstract Awards
To close the 2026 Research Retreat, on April 8 we held a session for presenters at the upcoming Pediatric Academic Societies Conference to practice their talks. Dr. Jennifer Cohen and Medical Student, Ashley Nmoh, gave their practice presentations and were given the opportunity to answer questions and receive extensive, insightful feedback on their presentation. Following their practice talks, we were joined by the Vice Chair of Research Dr. Christoph Hornik, to present awards to Top Abstract and Poster Awardees!
Congratulations to everyone!
This year’s 3-day Research Retreat celebrated the excellence, collaboration, and impact of pediatric research at Duke. Thank you all!
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