HOUSTON, Dec. 12, 2022 – The American Pediatric Society (APS) and the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) are pleased to announce Kurt H. Albertine, PhD, as the recipient of the 2023 Mary Ellen Avery Neonatal Research Award. This award honors a pediatric investigator who has made important contributions to neonatal health through basic or translational research.
Credit: APS
HOUSTON, Dec. 12, 2022 – The American Pediatric Society (APS) and the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) are pleased to announce Kurt H. Albertine, PhD, as the recipient of the 2023 Mary Ellen Avery Neonatal Research Award. This award honors a pediatric investigator who has made important contributions to neonatal health through basic or translational research.
Dr. Albertine is Professor of Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Neurobiology & Anatomy, Edward B. Clark Endowed Chair IV in Pediatrics at the University of Utah School of Medicine. Dr. Albertine’s impactful contributions to the field of neonatal medicine include his bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) basic and translational research program, which is conducted within his lamb intensive care unit (LICU). His imaginative approach has driven innovative methods to extend his preterm lamb model beyond the original lung context across different organ systems and to long-term outcomes, using former preterm lambs. Dr. Albertine’s LICU and preterm lamb models have provided an unparalleled local, national, and international training ground for young scientists impacting all levels of the academic “pipeline.”
In 2013, the APS and SPR established and endowed the Mary Ellen Avery Award. This award honors Dr. Avery’s outstanding lifetime achievements and seminal contributions to neonatal health through her discovery of respiratory distress syndrome, her research and academic leadership, and her outstanding service to pediatrics and neonatology.
“The American Pediatric Society is delighted to recognize Dr. Albertine as the recipient of the 2023 Mary Ellen Avery Award for his outstanding contributions to research and education in the field of neonatal medicine,” said Lisa Robinson, MD, FRCP(C), FASN, President of the American Pediatric Society. “His comprehensive approaches have used innovative models of ventilator-induced lung injury in sheep delivered pre-term to understand the immediate and long-term effects on molecular and physiologic regulation of lung architecture and function. His extraordinary translational research program spans the gamut from bedside to bench to bedside and has served as a unique platform to inspire and develop the next generation of pediatric researchers and practitioners.”
“The Society for Pediatric Research is honored to have Dr. Albertine as a long standing and active member. He has played a valuable role as a leader in our Young Investigator Coaching Program and our Journeys program, a collaboration with the American Pediatric Society. His innovative and impactful research in neonatal cardiopulmonary disease and his commitment to training the next generation of scientists makes him well deserving of this prestigious award,” said SPR President Kate Ackerman, MD, MBA.
Beyond Dr. Albertine’s scientific achievements, he has played a vital role in bridging the gap between basic science and clinical care. How he communicates his findings to translational and clinical scientists has taught the academic and clinical communities to think more deeply about strategies underlying cardiopulmonary disease management. Dr. Albertine’s legacy also includes his training and mentoring the next generation of basic scientists and pediatrician- scientists. To date, he has directly trained more than 280 young scientists.
Dr. Albertine received his PhD from Loyola University of Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in Pulmonary Physiology at the Cardiovascular Research Institute at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Albertine has more than 170 peer-reviewed papers and has been continuously NIH-funded for four decades.
For more information about Dr. Albertine and the Mary Ellen Avery Award, please visit the APS website.
###
About the American Pediatric Society
The American Pediatric Society (APS) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1888 as the first pediatric society in North America. The mission of the APS is to engage distinguished child health leaders representing the full diversity within the field to shape the future of academic pediatrics. The 1,800 plus members of APS are recognized leaders of extraordinary achievement who work together to shape the future of academic pediatrics. For more information, please visit aps1888.org, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Society for Pediatric Research
The Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) encourages and supports pediatric research endeavors by creating a network of diverse researchers to improve child health. Collaboration among SPR members creates meaningful progress for the future of children’s health. For more information, please visit www.societyforpediatricresearch.org, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Media Contacts:
Lisa Thompson Association Director
American Pediatric Society
(346) 980-9707
[email protected]
Jana Wells
Senior Association Director
Society for Pediatric Research
(346) 258-6218
[email protected]