Center for Pediatric Abdominal Pain Research

The Pediatric Abdominal Pain Research Program is led by Dr. Robert Shulman, a practicing pediatric gastroenterologist at Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. Our team consists of physician and Ph.D. researchers, psychologists, study coordinators and laboratory personnel.

The Center for Pediatric Abdominal Pain Research is part of the Children's Nutrition Research Center which houses laboratories of varied disciplines, a vast array of state-of-the-art equipment, a greenhouse, observation labs and accommodations for research volunteers, a metabolic kitchen, and an elite group of scientists conducting groundbreaking research. Visit the CNRC.

The research studies we conduct are focused on abdominal pain in children that don't have a clear cause. This pain has been called recurrent abdominal pain, chronic abdominal pain or functional abdominal pain. Currently, we use the term “Disorders of the Gut-Brain Axis” signifying the close interaction between gut and brain functions that can be affected in these children. We are specifically interested in:

• Studying physiological attributes such as alterations in the gastrointestinal and nervous systems
• Determining how psychological factors can affect symptoms
• Defining the contribution of genetics
• Examining the role of the immune system and inflammation
• Analyzing how bacteria may play a role in affecting symptoms
• Identifying how certain treatments may improve symptoms

We are currently seeking study participants for the following clinical trials - financial compensation is provided:

• Peppermint Oil Pharmacokinetics/Dynamics and Novel Biological Signatures in Children with Functional Abdominal Pain (H-40351)
• A Pediatric Gastroparesis Registry (H-41641)
• Pain Management Strategy for Children with Functional Gastrointestinal Pain Disorders (H-43391)