Blaufuss’ study plans to determine whether ViBandz, a vibration device that can strap to different areas of the body, is a practical option for pediatric patients with neurological conditions going through physical or occupational therapy.

Vibration is a form of neurorehabilitation used to help patients reduce pain and regulate senses, and recent research shows it can help patients with mobility issues. Vibration therapy typically requires the patient or a caregiver to hold the device on the targeted area. However, ViBandz are hands-free, lightweight vibration devices that can be strapped over the targeted area. Blaufuss’ study will test ViBandz on 15 pediatric patients between 6 months old and 17 years old with a neurological condition causing abnormal movements of at least one body part to determine whether it is a practical option for this population.

Data will be collected through video recordings of the patient using the device and surveys completed by caregivers or older children. This data will help determine whether a new device needs to be created or whether the study needs to expand its resources and examine a larger group.

If ViBandz passes the clinical testing stages, Blaufuss hopes that the devices will be accessible for both clinical and home use.

 “Our goal as therapists is to enable our patients to participate in everyday life, but time spent in the clinic takes away from time at home, in school or in the community. My goal for ViBandz is to promote more efficient therapy in the clinic, as well as provide a simple tool for families to incorporate at home,” said Blaufuss.

Mann’s study plans to examine whether dry needling treatments affect post-surgical outcomes for pediatric patients who underwent an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with the usage of a quadriceps tendon autograft.

Physical therapists have noticed an increase in ACL reconstructions utilizing quadricep autografts. However, many patients struggle to regain strength in their quadriceps. Physical therapists are using a treatment called dry needling where thin needles are inserted into the muscle to provide stimulation and treat myofascial pain.

There is currently a lack of research in dry needling treatments for pediatric patients and how it could affect acute and subacute post-operative care and the strength of the muscle. However, Mann’s retrospective review showed pediatric orthopedic patients benefiting from dry needling treatments.

Mann’s study will analyze 30 patients between 10-20 years old who underwent ACL reconstruction with a quadricep autograft and are currently undergoing sports physical therapy at Children’s Mercy. Half of these patients will undergo two dry needling sessions while the other half serves as a control group. The study team will measure quadriceps before and after treatments to determine whether there was a change in strength.

Mann hypothesizes that when completed in the subacute post-operative phase dry needling will help increase the strength of the quadricep therefore improving patient outcomes.

“This study has the potential to improve post-surgical outcomes for so many individuals and allow Children’s Mercy to be the pioneer for advancing pediatric dry needling,” said Mann.

Maschmeier’s study plans to determine whether patient experience at Children’s Mercy has been affected by the recent changes to the fetal surgery program.

In 2024, the Fetal Health Center at Children’s Mercy reinstated the fetal surgery program with new standards that prioritize the following:

• Care protocols for specific diseases.
• Coordinated multidisciplinary consultations.
• Fetal surgery coordinators who can communicate complex information.
• A variety of educational materials.
• A dedicated helpline with 24/7 emergency support.

NRC Health, founded by the National Research Corporation, uses health surveys to evaluate health care quality and issue patient satisfaction scores. However, there is a lack of research analyzing whether NRC Health patient scores are affected by care changes in fetal surgery.

This study will evaluate changes in patient satisfaction scores by comparing NRC Health surveys obtained before and after the recent restructuring of the fetal surgery program. Maschmeier hypothesizes that the new enhancements to the program have improved the health care quality and overall patient satisfaction scores.

By determining the effectiveness of these changes, this study may go beyond fetal surgery and lead the way for improved patient experiences in the entire Fetal Health Center.

"At the end of the day, everything we do is about improving the experience for our patients and families. We've been very intentional about the changes we have made, and this study helps us understand what's working and where we can continue to grow," said Maschmeier.

Dr. Ranjan’s study plans to test how the gene MDM4 affects the production of the essential molecule NAD⁺, and how it interacts with medications blocking the enzyme nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT).

Many pediatric cancers — like Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma and acute myeloid leukemia — overexpress the MDM4 gene. MDM4 blocks the tumor suppressor protein, p53, but recent studies have found that MDM4 could also negatively affect cancer growth in tumors lacking p53. However, there are no treatments that target tumors with high levels of MDM4 missing p53.

Preclinical findings show that tumors with high levels of MDM4 without p53 are sensitive to NAMPT inhibitors which suppresses the ability to produce NAD⁺. Dr. Ranjan’s team will analyze why MDM4 causes sensitivity to medications blocking NAMPT and how MDM4 affects NAD⁺ production. Dr. Ranjan hypothesizes that tumors with overexpressed MDM4 suppress NAD⁺ which causes a sensitivity to NAMPT-blocking medications.

This study aims to support the advancement of biomarker-guided treatments for children with high-risk cancers overexpressing MDM4.

“Understanding why MDM4‑overexpressed tumors are vulnerable to NAMPT inhibitors may allow us to match the right therapy to the right patient, helping us move toward more precise, biology‑informed treatment strategies in pediatric oncology,” said Dr. Ranjan.

Co‑investigator on this study is Anita Saraf, PhD, University of Kansas.