Pediatric Research Symposium Showcases Innovative Research That Saves Children's Lives - Research

(From left) R. Ariel Gomez, MD; Mark DeBoer, MD, Sergio Rosenzweig, MD, PhD; Maria Luisa S. Sequeira-Lopez, MD; Madhusmita Misra, MD, MPH

On Thursday May 29, 2025, the Child Health Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, hosted its 37th Annual Research Symposium. The renowned event began with an invigorating keynote lecture by Sergio D. Rosenzweig, MD, PhD, titled “Ikaros-Associated Diseases: Where the 1 gene/1 protein/1 disease Dogma Concedes.” Dr. Rosenzweig is chief of the immunology service at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center. R. Ariel Gomez, MD, director of the Child Health Research Center, gave the introduction and welcoming remarks.

Subsequent to the keynote lecture, all attendees were ushered to the UVA Battle Building main lobby, for the presentation of the posters and competition. The poster session and competition showcases the progressive research of trainees and faculty. The top three scholars recognized in the poster competition were Claire Williams (first place), Sarah Dudley (second place), and Manako Yamaguchi (third place).

Dr. Misra with Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dr. Moon, and Dr. Gomez

Following the poster session an awards ceremony assembled a packed house of faculty members, trainees, and friends to honor the accomplishments of individuals in pediatric research. Rachel Younglin Moon, MD, the Harrison Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics, was presented this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner by Dr. Gomez. Also recognized during the awards ceremony were some exceptional trainees. Sage Timberline was named the Kendig Award winner, and Patricia Moran and Hiroki Yamaguchi were the Hiroko Nishimura Award winners. Additionally, Sage Timberline, Alexandrine Ratnani, and Lucas Ferreira de Almeida, winners of the Pediatric Research Trainee Competition on May 9, presented their work. To conclude the day’s festivities, the participants were invited to a small group discussion with Dr. Rosenzweig on the topic “3N career effect: Nature, Nurture & Networking.”

The prestigious research symposium was featured on the local news. View the coverage at 29News and CBS19News.