The AASLD Clinical and Translational Research Awards in Liver Diseases are intended to foster career development for individuals performing clinical and/or translational research in a liver-related area and who have shown commitment to excellence at an early stage of their research study. The awards ensure that a significant portion of young investigators’ time is protected for research, with an overall objective of enabling young investigators to develop independent and productive research careers in liver disease.
The 2009 recipient of the AASLD Clinical and Translational Research Award in Liver Diseases is Dr. Shikha Sundaram, sponsored by the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine, for her research project entitled Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Mechanistic Links Between Hypoxemia and Liver Injury. Dr. Sundaram began her career in pediatric hepatology at Northwestern University in the laboratory of Dr. Richard Green. After obtaining a Masters of Science in Clinical Investigation while in her fellowship period at Northwestern, Dr. Sundaram continued under the mentorship of Dr. Estella Alonso. In 2006, Dr. Sundaram joined the University of Colorado staff as an Assistant Professor and is sponsored for this award by Dr. Ronald Sokol.
AASLD is supporting the AASLD Clinical and Translational Research Award in Liver Diseases from its own operating funds.
The AASLD Sheila Sherlock Clinical and Translational Research Award in Liver Diseases honors and recognizes Dame Sheila Sherlock for her pioneering research and dedication to young research fellows which helped elevate Hepatology to the discipline it is today. The 2009 recipient is Dr. Puneet Puri, sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, for his research project entitled The Plasma Lipidomic Signature of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH). Dr. Puri's interest in hepatology began through interactions with his uncle Dr. Shiv Sarin - an academic hepatologist in India working in the area of portal hypertension. After receiving his MD and initial residency training in India, Dr. Puri continued his residency at the University of Massachusetts. In 2005, he began his fellowship in gastroenterology and then hepatology under the mentorship of Dr. Arun Sanyal at Virginia Commonwealth University. During his tenure at VCU, Dr. Puri has also been a recipient of the AASLD Advanced Transplant Hepatology Fellowship program.
Support from The Roche Foundation for the 2009 AASLD Sheila Sherlock Clinical and Translational Research Award in Liver Diseases is gratefully acknowledged.
Previous AASLD Clinical and Translational Research Award recipients
Dr. Efsevia Albanis (2004)
Dr. Kiran Bambha (2008)
Dr. Alex Befeler (2001)
Dr. Scott W Biggins (2005)
Dr. Anne Burke (1999)
Dr. Kathleen M Campbell (2005)
Dr. Matthew Cave (2007)
Dr. Aymin F Delgado (2005)
Dr. Jordan Feld (2008)
Dr. Rena K Fox (2003)
Dr. Mary Ann Y Huang (2004)
Dr. George N Ioannou (2006)
Dr. Ravi R Jhaveri (2006)
Dr. Ningling F Kang-Decker (2006)
Dr. Karan McBride Emerick (2000)
Dr. Patrick G Northup (2007)
Dr. Keyur Patel (2004)
Dr. Hugo R Rosen (1998)
Dr. Tamar H Taddei (2007)
Dr. Norah Terrault (1997)
Dr. Aaron R Turkish (2005)
Dr. David A Weinstein (2002)
Questions? Contact Denise Davis or Kristin Hutcherson via email at awards@aasld.org or by phone at 703-299-9766.