Ongoing Research Activities

SIMRI’s current research framework is structured into seven key pillars, each designed to advance pediatric respiratory science in Italy and beyond.

Active Task Forces

SIMRI convenes multidisciplinary, time-limited Study Task Forces to tackle priority topics—ranging from severe asthma phenotyping to digital health in respiratory care. Each Task Force produces white papers, state-of-the-art reviews, and research protocols to guide clinical practice and future investigations simri.it.

Active Fellowships

To nurture emerging researchers, SIMRI awards competitive fellowships that fund post-doctoral or clinician-scientist training. These fellowships emphasize hands-on experience within high-volume pediatric respiratory centers and often include mentorship from senior SIMRI board members simri.it.

Clinical Research Collaborations (CRC)

SIMRI’s CRC network connects university hospitals and regional centers, enabling multicenter trials on topics like cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, and sleep-disordered breathing. Through shared protocols and centralized data management, CRCs increase statistical power and harmonize methodologies across sites simri.it.

Ongoing Research Projects

Beyond CRCs, SIMRI coordinates bespoke research projects funded by national (e.g., Ministero della Salute) or European grants (e.g., Horizon Europe). Current projects include biomarker discovery in pediatric asthma and telemedicine interventions for rural patient cohorts simri.it.

Guidelines Development

SIMRI actively contributes to the formulation and periodic update of clinical practice guidelines for pediatric respiratory conditions. Working groups synthesize evidence, grade recommendations, and liaise with international bodies (e.g., ERS, ATS) to ensure consistency and applicability simri.it.

Best Practice Recommendations

Complementary to formal guidelines, SIMRI publishes concise Good Practice Recommendations on emerging topics—such as COVID-19 management in children, non-invasive ventilation protocols, and inhaled therapy adherence strategies simri.it.

Consensus & Technical Standards

When evidence gaps exist, SIMRI convenes consensus conferences and technical standard committees. These gatherings produce expert-based statements on diagnostic criteria, pulmonary function testing protocols, and digital tool validation, ensuring high technical rigor simri.it.

Funding Opportunities Offered

To empower clinicians and researchers at every career stage, SIMRI provides a suite of funding mechanisms under its “Opportunità di Finanziamento” banner. These resources facilitate idea generation, skill development, and the translation of research into practice.

Task Force Calls

Periodic calls invite proposals for new Study Task Forces on cutting-edge pediatric respiratory topics. Selected groups receive organizational support, meeting facilitation, and publication channels to disseminate outcomes simri.it.

Research Grants

SIMRI awards annual grants (“Borse di Ricerca”) to support pilot studies, feasibility work, and data analysis. Grants typically cover salary support, consumables, and travel for collaborative meetings. Awardees present results at the yearly SIMRI Congress simri.it.

Research Seminars

Through “Seminari di Ricerca,” SIMRI sponsors short workshop series—often hosted regionally—that combine methodological training (e.g., biostatistics, registry design) with networking opportunities. Eligible participants include early-career investigators and allied health professionals simri.it.

Short-Term Fellowships

SIMRI’s Short-Term Fellowships fund 1–6-month visits to national or international centers of excellence. Fellows gain exposure to specialized techniques (e.g., bronchoscopic biopsies, advanced pulmonary function labs) and return ready to implement best practices locally simri.it.

Long-Term Fellowships

Designed for in-depth training, Long-Term Fellowships (6–24 months) support advanced postgraduate research in pediatric respiratory fields. Fellows often collaborate on multicenter trials and co‐author high-impact publications simri.it.

Guidelines & Consensus Sponsorship

SIMRI provides targeted funding for guideline working groups and consensus conferences. Support includes logistical coordination, systematic review services, and editorial assistance to produce timely, evidence‐based recommendations