Faculty Awards (continued)
Cincinnati Children's celebrated outstanding faculty members on February 18. Congratulations to our honorees and to all who were nominated by their peers.
Basic Science Research Achievement Award
Daniel Lucas, PhD
Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology
Daniel Lucas, PhD, has quickly grown into a leader in the hematopoietic stem cell and bone marrow failure field. His original, high-impact contributions have transformed our understanding of hematopoiesis and hematological diseases.
Lucas has elevated Cincinnati Children’s stature in the area of hematopoietic stem cell and progenitor regulation and related bone marrow transplantation and blood diseases. His research focuses on cellular crosstalk in the bone marrow and how it impacts hematopoiesis, inflammatory diseases and leukemogenesis.
He spent five years developing tools to analyze the anatomy of myelo-erythropoiesis in the bone marrow by situ means—on the whole intact bone marrow—to track differentiation and self-renewal properties of distinct subpopulations of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), myeloid progenitors, and erythroid progenitors.
His landmark discoveries include the unveiling of the sympathetic nervous system acting on the niche to control HSC trafficking and mobilization and the sympathetic signals for regeneration of the niche after transplantation; discovery of cellular crosstalk in the bone marrow and how it impacts hematopoiesis under stress; discovery that granulocytes drive the regeneration of the sinusoidal HSC niche after myeloablation via TNFα secretion; and a fate-map of myelopoiesis and erythropoiesis in situ in understanding how the microenvironment regulates hematopoiesis.
Lucas’s impressive publication record, continuing NIH funding, and overall contribution to Cincinnati Children's make him a growing leader in the field of hematopoiesis.
Basic Science Research Achievement Award
Daniel Starczynowski, PhD
Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology
Daniel Starczynowski, PhD, is a leader in the hematologic malignancy field. He is driven to improve understanding of hematology and develop opportunities for treatment of diseases.
He has made significant contributions to the field, particularly to the novel mechanism of immunomodulation of hematologic malignancies, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). His studies have discovered aberrant activation of inflammatory and innate-immune related pathways in leukemic hematopoietic stem cells and added to the evidence that inflammatory signaling is a major unifying driver of MDS and AML. His research utilizes innovative approaches to investigate the intersection of inflammation, hematopoiesis, and the pathogenesis of hematologic malignancies.
Starczynowski has also served the hematology community at large. Aside from his original research discoveries and well-deserved grant funding, he is actively contributing to the hematology research community through his service on diverse study sections.
He has mentored trainees who are on their way to independent academic careers. Additionally, he has co-directed the Center of Excellence program that serve broad hematology research and mentored PhD and MD fellows and students to faculty positions.
Clinical/Translational Research Achievement Award
Andrea Beaton, MD
Heart Institute
Andrea Beaton, MD, is garnering a national and international reputation, and her performance over the last few years has been nothing short of spectacular. She’s had more than 90 peer review publications, many in the highest impact journals in cardiology, as well as in medicine.
Her work has been supported by a high level of external funding, which increases unabated. Most importantly, she is the principal investigator of two American Heart Association Strategically Focused Research Network Awards, an achievement rarely seen even in the most established of investigators.
Her international reputation as the preeminent researcher in rheumatic fever, worldwide, is underscored by her many leadership positions in this field. Unsurprisingly, she is a sought-out speaker who has extraordinary poise and maturity when teaching and lecturing.
Perhaps just as important as these academic accomplishments is that Beaton is a fabulous doctor, beloved by her patients, an outstanding collaborator and mentor to our fellows here and trainees overseas.
Clinical/Translational Research Achievement Award
Andrew Trout, MD
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging
Andrew Trout, MD, currently serves as the Department of Radiology’s director of clinical research. His clinical and research focus areas include both advanced abdominal imaging and diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine.
Trout’s translational research has led to significant advances in the imaging of liver disease allowing non-invasive quantitation of fibrosis and fat, the quantitative evaluation of pancreatic exocrine function, and the theranostic assessment and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. He has published 149 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 93 other papers and book chapters, and 153 published abstracts.
Trout is a model of collaborative science, working closely with members of gastroenterology, oncology, cardiology, pulmonology, and surgery. He is a member of the ARC-funded Pancreas Care Center, Fontan Management Program, and Fibrosis Collaborative. He has been an investigator and co-investigator on several foundation, society, and NIH grants and has a progressive track record of securing funding.
Importantly, Trout gives back to the research field through his editorial work with the journal Pediatric Radiology and as an active reviewer for multiple journals to help improve the research of others. He also pays it forward through mentoring of other faculty and directing the Radiology fellowship research program.
Clinical/Translational Research Achievement Award
Scott Powers, PhD, ABPP, FAHS
Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology
Scott Powers, PhD, ABPP, FAHS, is an internationally known pediatric psychologist and headache researcher. He co-founded the CCHMC Headache Center, one of the first multidisciplinary centers dedicated to the clinical care and research into the causes and treatments for pediatric headache, in 1996.
Powers’ research in behavioral medicine has spanned child behavior and nutrition to groundbreaking studies of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments of migraine and other pediatric recurrent and chronic pain conditions. Along with a strong portfolio of grant funded research, Powers has published nearly 200 peer-reviewed papers. He has received national awards for his research and mentorship, and he serves as an associate editor for the journal Headache and on a number of timely NIH reviewer panels convened to address the opioid crisis and strengthen research in pain management.
Powers is a highly regarded senior mentor and colleague who provides both formal and informal mentorship and guidance to numerous early, mid- and senior faculty. As such, he is highly valued as a teacher and mentor across disciplines and across career stages by research faculty at Cincinnati Children's.
Research Team Award
Neurobehavioral Treatment Discovery Lab
Row 1 (L-R): Craig Erickson, MD; Christina Gross, PhD; Rebecca Shaffer, PsyD; Ernest Pedapati, MD, MS, FAAP Row 2 (L-R): Kelli Dominick, MD, PhD; Lauren Schmitt, PhD; Martine Lamy, MD, PhD, Elizabeth Smith, PhD Row 3 (L-R): Amelle Shillington, DO; Meredith Will, PhD
The Neurobehavioral Treatment Discovery Lab takes a multidisciplinary translational approach to studying underlying biological mechanisms and novel treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, Fragile X syndrome, Angelman syndrome, and other genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. The lab specializes in the use of multimodal physiologic and basic science techniques to understand underlying biological mechanisms that lead to the development of neurodevelopmental disorders as well as to develop biologically targeted treatments.
This team demonstrates national and international leadership in new treatment development in this field including leading multi-site clinical trials and having specific expertise in the repurposing of available drugs while also working with new chemical entities employing synchronized bench-to-bedside work.
The Neurobehavioral Treatment Discovery Lab shares pooled resources across the institution and has a true dedication to mentoring and developing diverse and capable researchers. They meet weekly as a larger group, conduct bi-weekly science presentation meetings, and conduct monthly research meetings across the lab.
These faculty are experts in their field and have developed a highly collaborative, productive research group that is committed to translational research and the treatment of challenging neurodevelopmental disorders.