On the Internet and in some circles, it has been predicted that December 2012 will herald some cataclysmic events, as this date has been rumored to be the end date of a 5,125-y-long cycle in the ancient Mayan calendar. Predictions of catastrophe abound, and a “2012” movie with blockbuster special effects depicting various natural disasters is due out at the end of the year.

A level of anxiety which sometimes flares into a sense of impending doom has also surfaced in the pediatric research community in 2012. During this calendar year, economic uncertainty, political standoffs, and threats of drastic budget cuts to programs supporting child health and pediatric research have made the future of pediatric research feel very uncertain. In this address, I will outline those threats but also highlight the strengths of the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) organization, most visibly represented by (i) the focus of our strategic planning efforts, initiated over the last 2 y and (ii) our outstanding membership, who demonstrate an unparalleled commitment to research promoting children’s health. Focusing on our strategic priorities and leveraging the commitment of our members to promote research provides an opportunity for our community to overcome the threats to child health research on the immediate horizon.

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