Biographical Sketch - Updated 12/16/2013

About the Principal Investigator (PI)

Dr. Sohail Husain is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh and a Pediatric Gastroenterologist at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. He studied medicine at Tufts University and learned Pediatrics at New York University-Bellevue Hospital. He developed a passion for gastroenterology as a Fellow at Yale University. He is committed to a career in Pediatric Pancreatology, from both a translational and clinical aspect. For about a decade at Yale, he studied cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to acute pancreatitis. In this context, his work was the first to identify a pathological role for pancreatic acinar cell calcium release from the intra-cellular calcium channel the ryanodine receptor. In more recent work, he has identified pathological targets of calcium signaling in pancreatitis, particularly calcineurin. The findings are relevant to potential clinical studies that would use specific calcium channel blockers and calcium modulators to treat pancreatitis. Another major research interest is pancreatic regeneration after injury. Building upon a cohort of children with pancreatitis and more recently through a collaborative multi-center Pediatric registry, Dr. Husain has also published work that provides a novel description of the presentation, evaluation, and trends among affected children. Combined with an expertise in examining the molecular pathogenesis of pancreatitis and the clinical entity among children, Dr. Husain’s long term goals are to come up with novel, targeted therapies for pancreatitis.

Education and Training


Medical School:
1998 Tufts University School of Medicine, New York, N.Y.

Residency:
2001 New York University School of Medicine, New York, N.Y.

Fellowship:
2004 Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.

APPOINTMENTS AND POSITIONS

Academic:

1998-2001        Resident, Pediatrics, New York University Medical Center, New York, NY
2001–2002        Clinical fellow, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition,
                        Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
2002–2004        Postdoctoral research fellow, Laboratory of Fred S. Gorelick, Digestive Diseases,
                        Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
2004-2006        Associate Research Scientist, Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
2005-2011        Assistant Fellowship Director for Pediatric Gastroenterology at Yale
2006-2011        Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
2010-present    Editorial Board, Pancreapedia
2010                Consultant, National Pancreas Foundation strategy to address Pediatric pancreatitis
2011-present    Associate Professor, Pediatrics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2011-present    Co-Director, Pediatric Exocrine Pancreatic Disorders Program, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2012-2013        Course Director, Annual Third Year Fellows Conference, North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology,Hepatology, and Nutrition
2013                  Editor, Pediatric GI Research Agenda, North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition

 
MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES

Member, American Pancreatic Association 2002-present
Member, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) 2002-present
Member, American Gastroenterological Association 2002-present
Member, NASPGHAN Research Committee 2007-present
Member, Society for Pediatric Research 2008-2010
Chair, Research Sessions Committee for the NASPGHAN Annual Meeting 2011-present
Chair, Study Section for NASPGHAN Foundation grants 2009-2010      
Chair, NASPGHAN Research Committee 2010-present
American Board of Pediatrics, Board-eligible for General Pediatrics 2002
Board Certified in Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition 2005
Member, National Pancreas Foundation 2011-present
Member, Insppire (International Study Group Of Pediatric Pancreatitis: In Search For A Cure) 2010-present
Chair, Insppire Pediatric Pancreatitis Study Group Survey Sub-Committee 2010
Member, Pediatric Pancreatology (INSPPIRE) Consortium Publications Committee 2012
Member, Faculty of 1000 (F1000) 2012-present
Member, Advisory Board of the NASPGHAN Foundation 2010-present
Member, AGA Growth, Development & Child Health (GDCH) Section Nominating Committee 2013-present


HONORS

Edgar Davis Memorial Scholarship in Medicine 1990
Case Western Reserve University Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship Award 1992
Golden Key National Honor Society 1993
Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Binghamton University 1994
American Gastroenterological Association AstraZeneca Faculty Transition Basic Science Award 2004
Named “Junior Investigator Scholar” on a Yale Child Health Research Center Grant (NIH K12)  2004
NASGPHAN Fellow Abstract Travel Award 2004
Best Fellow Abstract Presentation Award, Pediatric Department, Yale University 2004
Humanitarian Achievement Award, from Humanity First USA (for role in Asian Tsunami and Katrina disaster relief) 2006
Children Digestive Health/Nutrition Foundation (CDHNF) Young Investigator Award 2006
NASGPHAN Faculty Abstract Travel Award 2008
Yale Pediatric Department Mae Gailani Award for Junior Faculty Research and Mentorship 2009
Recognition Award as Medical Trip Leader to Haiti for Earthquake Relief, Humanity First USA 2010
Best Doctors in America, Woodward/White, Inc.      

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

Teaching

Translational Medicine Course Instructor (head instructor Dr. Susan Baserga), Yale University School of Medicine 2001                                               
DigestiveDiseases Module Instructor to Second Year Medical Students, (head instructor Drs. Anil Nagar [2003-3008] and Clara Abraham [2009-2011), 
Yale University School of Medicine 2003-2011
Annual Pediatric Gastrointestinal Disease Lecture to Physician Assistant Students, Yale Physician Assistants Program 2004-2011
Assistant Fellowship Director for Pediatric Gastroenterology at Yale 2005-2011
Bedside to Bench preceptor for second year medical students (head instructor Dr. Cliff Bogue), Yale University School of Medicine 2006-2011
Pediatric Residency Journal Club Preceptor, Yale University School of Medicine 2009-2011
Faculty Preceptor for a Pediatric Gastroenterology Module for Medical Students, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine 2011-present
Faculty Instructor, Annual Third Year Fellows Conference, North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition 2011-2013
Course Director, Annual Third Year Fellows Conference, North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition 2012-2014
Director, Monthly Pitt/CHP Joint Pancreatic Research Seminar Series 2012-2013
 
Invited lectures

2004    Yale Pediatric Research in Progress Seminar, New Haven, CT. The role of the ryanodine receptor in acinar cell calcium signalling.
2004    Norwalk Hospital Grand Rounds, Norwalk, CT. Acute Pancreatitis in Children.
2005    Yale Pediatric Faculty Research in Progress Seminar Series, New Haven, CT. Ryanodine receptor calcium signals determine basolateral calcium spikes.
2006    Waterbury Hospital Grand Rounds, Waterbury, CT. Acute Pancreatitis in Children.
2006    Pancreatitis Core Lecture (host Dr. Michael Steer),Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. Ryanodine Receptor in Pancreatitis.
2006    Pancreas Research Lecture (host Dr. Ashok Saluja), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA. Ryanodine Receptor and Calcineurin in Pancreatitis.
2006    Yale Pediatric Faculty Research in Progress Seminar Series, New Haven, CT. Ryanodine receptor calcium signals modulate protease activation in pancreatitis
2006    Pediatric Gastroenterology Grand Rounds (host Dr. Elyanne Ratcliffe), Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY. Calcium Flux in Pancreatitis.
2006    Yale Pediatric Gastroenterology Lecture Series, New Haven, CT. Inflammation of the Pancreas.
2007    Pediatric Research in Progress (host Dr. Phillip Tarr), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Calcium Flux in Pancreatitis.
2007    Pediatric Research Lecture (host Dr. Shahzad Saeed), University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL. Calcium Flux in Pancreatitis.
2007    Yale Pediatric Faculty Research in Progress Seminar Series, New Haven, CT. Ryanodine receptor calcium signals can be modulated by biologically relevant cAMP signalling
2007    Bridgeport Hospital Grand Rounds, Bridgeport, CT. GERD in Children.
2007    Yale Pediatric Gastroenterology Lecture Series, New Haven, CT. GERD: Management Updates.
2007    NASPGHAN Young Investigator Award Lecture, Salt Lake City, IA. Calcium Flux in Pancreatitis.
2007    Pediatric Grand Rounds, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Acute Pancreatitis in Children.
2008    Yale Pediatric Faculty Research in Progress Seminar Series, New Haven, CT. Calcineurin mediates protease activation and pancreatitis.
2008    Yale Pediatric Gastroenterology Lecture Series, New Haven, CT. Celiac Disease: Diagnosis and Management.
2008    Bridgeport Hospital Pediatric Lecture Series, Bridgeport, CT. Nutritional Issues in Pancreatitis.
2008    Pediatric Grand Rounds, Winthrop Hospital, Garden City, NY. Acute Pancreatitis in Children.
2009    Yale Pediatric Faculty Research in Progress Seminar Series, New Haven, CT. Ethanol sensitizes to pancreatitis via activation of the calcium release channel the ryanodine receptor.
2009    Bridgeport Hospital Pediatric Lecture Series, Bridgeport, CT. Pediatric Pancreatic Disorders.
2009    Yale Pediatric Gastroenterology Lecture Series, New Haven, CT. Pancreatic Disorders of Inflammation and Insufficiency.
2009    Pediatric GI Seminar Series (host Dr. Mitch Cohen), Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH. Targeting Calcium in Pancreatitis.
2010    Yale-New Haven Hospital Pediatric Lecture Series, New Haven, CT. Pancreatic Development: Its Relevance to Pancreatic Inflammatory Disorders.
2010    Molecular Medicine Research Seminar (host Dr. Mark Lowe), Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Targeting Calcium in Pancreatitis.
2010    GI Seminar Series (host Dr. John Anderson), Dallas Children’s Hospital, Dallas, TX. Targeting Calcium in Pancreatitis.
2011    Pediatric GI Seminar (host Dr. Peter Durie), Hospital for Sick Kids, Toronto, Canada. Calcium pathways are Viable Targets in Pancreatitis.
2011    Yale Pediatric Faculty and Joint Digestive Disease Research Seminar Series, New Haven, CT. Ryanodine receptor mediates Biliary Pancreatitis.
2011    Molecular Medicine Research Seminar (host Dr. Mark Lowe), Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. The Ryanodine Receptor in Biliary Pancreatitis.
2012    Medical Grand Rounds, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA. Pancreatitis: A View from Mount Washington.
2013    Faculty lecture, National post-graduate course, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL. Pancreatic Function Testing in Children.

Moderator/Meet the Professors

2006    Co-Moderator for Basic Sciences Oral Sessions, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
2007    Invited faculty for a ‘Meet the Professors Breakfast’ on Nutritional Issues in Pediatric Pancreatitis,
                        NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, IA.
2007    Co-Moderator for Acute Pancreatitis Oral Session I
                        American Pancreatic Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
2008    Co-Moderator for Acute Pancreatitis Oral Session II
                        American Pancreatic Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
2008    Co-Moderator for Pancreatic Disorders Oral Session, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
2009    Co-Moderator for a Pediatric Pancreatitis Session, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
2009    Co-Moderator for a Basic Science Oral Session, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Washington, DC.
2009    Co-Moderator for Acute Pancreatitis Oral Session,
                        American and Japanese Pancreatic Association Joint Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii.
2010    Co-Moderator for a Basic Science Oral session, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
2010    Co-Moderator for Acute Pancreatitis Oral Session,
                        American Pancreatic Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
2011    Invited faculty,
                        Annual NASPGHAN Pediatric GI fellows’ research conference, Scottsdale, AZ.
2011    Invited faculty for a ‘Meet the Professors Breakfast’ on Grant Writing Skills,
                        NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
2011    Moderator for Pancreatic Disorders Oral Session, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
2011    Co-Moderator for the Opening Plenary Session, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
2011    Co-Moderator for Posters of Distinction Tour, American Pancreatic Association Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.      
2012    Director, Annual NASPGHAN Third year Pediatric GI fellows’ research conference, Scottsdale, AZ.
2012    Co-Moderator for the Opening Plenary Session, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT.
2013    Director, Annual NASPGHAN Third year Pediatric GI fellows’ research conference, Scottsdale, AZ.
2013    Co-Moderator for a Pediatric Gastroenterology Disorders Session, DDW Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
2013    Moderator for a Genetic Pancreatic Disorders Session, Pancreasfest, Pittsburgh, PA.
2013    Co-Moderator for the Opening Plenary Session, NASPGHAN Annual Meeting, Chicago, IL.
2014    Director, Annual NASPGHAN Third year Pediatric GI fellows’ research conference, Scottsdale, AZ.

Journal Reviewer

American Journal of Physiology – GI/Liver
Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology (2004-2010)
Journal of the Pancreas
Critical Care Medicine
Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
Journal of Biological Chemistry
The Open Pediatric Medicine Journal
Journal of Pathology
JPGN - Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (2008-2013)
Open Access Animal Physiology (2009)
Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry (2009)
Pediatric Health (2010)
PLOs One (2011)
Pancreapedia
FEBS Journal (2012)
Faculty of 1000 (F1000; 2012-2013)

Abstract Reviewer

American Pancreatic Association Annual Meetings (2007-present)
NASPGHAN Annual Meetings (2007-present)

Grant Reviewer

NASPGHAN Foundation (formerly CDHNF) grants reviewer (2008-present)
Chair, NASPGHAN Foundation grants study section (2009-2010)
NIH Challenge Grant external reviewer (2008)
FDA Orphan Products grant reviewer (2010)
NIDDK Special Emphasis Panel reviewer (2011-2012)
R13 Reviewer (2011-2012)
Research Advisory Committee, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC
NIH CIMG Reviewer (2013)

Service Activities

Member, Research Advisory Committee, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC                        2012
Physician Coordinator, Humanity First USA                                                                                  2005-2012
Preceptor for medical students, residents, fellows, and post-doctoral fellows                                   2004-2012
Pediatric Residency Candidate Interviewer                                                                                   2012-present
Advisory Board, NASPGHAN Foundation                                                                                     2010-present
Member, Selection Committee for the NASPGHAN Shwachman and Distinguished Service Awards 2013
Member, Growth, Development & Child Health (GDCH) Section Nominating Committee of the AGA  2013-present