MedImmune Awards Five Fellowship Research Grants To Advance Viral Respiratory Disease Research

Main Category: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Also Included In: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses;  Respiratory / Asthma;  Biology / Biochemistry
Article Date: 06 May 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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MedImmune has awarded grants to five pediatric fellows to assist their conduct of original research in the field of viral respiratory diseases. The fellowship research grants, which underscore the company's dedication to advancing research in pediatric health, were presented for the sixth consecutive year through MedImmune's Fellowship Research Grant Program. This year's recipients, awarded $35,000 each, were acknowledged on Sunday, May 3, 2009 at a reception at the Pediatric Academic Societies Annual Meeting in Baltimore.

"We are honored to contribute to important research that is essential to better understanding very common and potentially severe pediatric infectious diseases, such as respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and influenza," said Doris A. Makari, M.D., senior director, medical affairs. "Research continues to be the cornerstone of viral respiratory health advancements, which is why we remain dedicated to sponsoring promising studies like those of the five recipients being honored this year."

All grant candidates are required to be full-time fellows conducting original research as their primary focus in an American Board of Pediatrics-accredited fellowship program. The selection was made by an independent committee comprised of external pediatric reviewers from across the United States.

The 2009 Pediatric Fellowship Program grant recipients are:

• Jennifer Esbenshade, M.D.
  Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellow, Vanderbilt Children's Hospital
  Project Title: Surveillance of Influenza Shedding in Healthcare Workers in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
  
  
• Dana Lynn Esham, M.D.
  Pediatric Allergy Immunology Fellow, University of Texas Medical Branch
  Project Title: Role of Metapneumovirus G Protein in Modulating Innate Immune Responses
  
  
• Carla Garcia, M.D.
  Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellow, University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center
  Project Title: Rhinovirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus in Children: Clinical and Immune Differences
  
  
• Alejandro Jordan-Villegas, M.D.
  Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellow, University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center
  Project Title: Immunopathogenesis of RSV and Streptococcus pneumoniae interactions
  
  
• Maria Marchenko, M.D.
  Pediatric Critical Care Fellow, Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo
  Project Title: The effects of Isoflurane Inhalation on RSV Infection in Mice

MedImmune's Fellowship Research Grant Program is one example of the company's broader, ongoing commitment to research and pediatric health. To date, MedImmune has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in research funds over the last 20 years to develop new and next-generation medicines against respiratory viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.

Source:
Tor Constantino
Edelman Public Relations

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