Dr. Ullrich's long-term career goals are to become a productive independent investigator in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and palliative care investigating interventions aimed at ameliorating suffering in children with life-threatening illness. Her short-range goals are to garner experience in quantitative and qualitative research methods, with the ultimate aim of achieving scientific independence. Her most recent investigative efforts have been to understand the end-of-life experience of children who do not survive after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, an area that had not previously been the focus of systematic inquiry. Because Dr. Ullrich's preliminary cross-sectional data suggest that suffering is substantial in children who undergo HSCT, especially at the end of life, she seeks to better understand symptom distress and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children throughout the transplant trajectory. She will 1) prospectively assess the natural history of symptoms, distress from symptoms and quality of life in children undergoing HSCT 2) to pilot an intervention that routinely feeds back quality of life and symptom data as a component of routine care, and 3) interview bereaved parents of children whose last therapy was HSCT, to explore in a detailed fashion the child's symptom experience at end of life. Such an approach will provide unique opportunities to understand the natural history of child symptoms and HRQoL throughout the transplant course, regardless of outcomes. Drs. Joanne Wolfe, Stephanie Lee and Susan Parsons will oversee her training and career development, which will also be supported by an Advisory Board. Dr. Ullrich's research and training will be based at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children's Hospital Boston, which together offer a vast array of opportunities for intellectual exchange and scientific development. In addition to the proposed research project, her career development plan includes activities designed to further her intellectual, leadership and clinical and research skills through course work in qualitative and quantitative methods such as longitudinal analysis and advanced epidemiologic methods; seminars and conferences; related clinical activities; and selected committee work. The career development plan in its entirety will provide Dr. Ullrich with every opportunity to develop into a successful independent outcomes investigator. Based on the knowledge, skills and systematically collected data generated by the proposed research, she will be well-positioned to seek additional funding to support a multi-centered trial aiming to optimize comfort and quality of life in children who undergo HSCT.

Public Health Relevance

Significant advances in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have improved survival rates and extended the possibility of cure to growing numbers of children. HSCT remains a high risk endeavor, however, and optimization of symptom control and maximization of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) lag behind other medical and technical advances. Preliminary cross-sectional data suggest that suffering is substantial in these children, especially at the end of life. The purpose of the proposed research is to systematically evaluate symptom distress and HRQoL in children throughout the transplant trajectory, and to preliminarily evaluate an intervention aimed at easing child suffering. These studies will inform needed research and clinical efforts aimed at ameliorating suffering in children who undergo HSCT.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23HL107452-05
Application #
8829888
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-X (F1))
Program Officer
Mondoro, Traci
Project Start
2011-05-04
Project End
2016-04-30
Budget Start
2015-05-01
Budget End
2016-04-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$142,560
Indirect Cost
$10,560
Name
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
076580745
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02215
Ullrich, Christina K; Dussel, Veronica; Orellana, Liliana et al. (2018) Self-reported fatigue in children with advanced cancer: Results of the PediQUEST study. Cancer 124:3776-3783
Ullrich, Christina K; Rodday, Angie Mae; Bingen, Kristin M et al. (2017) Three sides to a story: Child, parent, and nurse perspectives on the child's experience during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Cancer 123:3159-3166
Ullrich, Christina K; Rodday, Angie Mae; Bingen, Kristin et al. (2016) Parent Outlook: How Parents View the Road Ahead as They Embark on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation for Their Child. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 22:104-11
Ullrich, Christina K; Lehmann, Leslie; London, Wendy B et al. (2016) End-of-Life Care Patterns Associated with Pediatric Palliative Care among Children Who Underwent Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 22:1049-1055
Rosenberg, Abby R; Orellana, Liliana; Ullrich, Christina et al. (2016) Quality of Life in Children With Advanced Cancer: A Report From the PediQUEST Study. J Pain Symptom Manage 52:243-53
Ullrich, Christina; Morrison, R Sean (2013) Pediatric palliative care research comes of age: what we stand to learn from children with life-threatening illness. J Palliat Med 16:334-6