Pitt-BWF Physician Scientist Incubator
Summer 2025
The Physician Scientist Incubator is a program that was developed in 2018 to enrich the pool of MD/DO only physician scientists. The Incubator has matriculated 7 cohorts for a total of 46 Scholars. To date, Scholars have over 290 authorships since joining the program. The goal of the program is to train the highest quality biomedical investigators by building their scientific, professional and resiliency skills necessary to become and persist as a successful physician-scientist. Resident and fellow Pitt-BWF Scholars from multiple departments benefit from a structured curriculum, writing groups, executive coaching, and time-saving initiatives.
Program Graduates
The highlight of the Summer was a joyful graduation ceremony for our program graduates. On June 5, 2025, graduating scholars, joined by mentors, gathered to celebrate one another. We are very proud of these individuals as they move on in their training and/or careers.
Hussam Abou-Al-Shaar, MD, Cerebrovascular and Skull Base Fellow at UTHealth in Houston. Dr. Abou-Al-Shaar’s project was “Predicting Visual Recovery After Skull Base Surgery Using High-Definition Fiber Tractography.”
Kassandra Allbright, MD, Clinical Instructor of Medicine and T32 Postdoctoral Scholar. Dr. Allbright’s project was “Progenitor Cell Dysfunction and Senescence in COPD -- a Potential Novel Culprit: Wnt Pathway Antagonist WIF1.”
Vincent Antonelli, MD, General Surgery Resident and Postdoctoral Scholar. Dr. Antonelli’s project was “Regenerative Medicine Technologies for Colorectal Applications.”
Bryant Fisher, MD, Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident. Dr. Fisher’s project was “Targeting the Aortic Microvasculature with Regenerative Biomaterials in the Treatment of Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm.”
Christopher Flores, MD, Internal Medicine Resident. Dr. Flores’ project was “The Kynurenine Pathway, Inflammation, and Sterol Metabolism in Pulmonary Hypertension.”
Julia Leix, MD, Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapies Fellow. Dr. Leix’s project was “NCOR1 and ATRX Alterations in Sarcomas.”
Arka Mallela, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery, Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Mallela’s project was “Understanding the Mechanisms of Expressive Language Production Using Intracranial Electrophysiology.”
Cristina Padilla, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh. Dr. Padilla’s project was “Lung Natural Killer Cells from Scleroderma-associated Interstitial Lung Disease Exhibit Features of Activation and Exhaustion.”
Anna Ramos, MD, General Surgery Resident. Dr. Ramos’ project was “Mitochondrial Dynamics in the Intestinal Epithelium in the Setting of Colitis.”
Incoming Scholars
We welcomed 6 individuals as newly appointed Pitt-BWF Scholars:
Sahar Alimohamadi, MD, Integrated Vascular Surgery
Catherine Corey, MD, Pediatric Endocrinology Fellow
Ander Dorken-Gallastegi, MD, General Surgery
Anthony Gebran, MD, General Surgery
Sakibul Huq, MD, Neurosurgery
Michelle Roe, MD, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellow
Featured Recent Graduate
Cristina M. Padilla, MD was a Pitt-BWF Scholar from 2024-2025. Dr. Padilla is currently Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology at the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Padilla’s research focuses on the role of natural killer (NK) cells in systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), a systemic autoimmune disease marked by immune dysregulation, vasculopathy, and organ fibrosis. Using single cell RNA-seq, we have identified a unique NK cell population in the lungs of SSc-ILD patients that exhibit features of cytotoxicity and exhaustion, which may contribute to both immune-mediated injury and ongoing inflammation.
Using single- cell multiomic techniques, including paired RNA and ATAC-sequencing, and deep learning models, her team is mapping the transcriptional and epigenetic states of these NK cells to. Uncover key regulatory pathways that distinguish them from their counterparts in healthy lungs. Her team aims to find disease-specific transcription factors that may drive cell dysfunction and contribute to lung fibrosis. This work has the potential to reveal novel therapeutic targets, improve risk stratification of Ssc-ILD.
When asked, why have you decided to pursue a career as a physician scientist, Dr. Padilla stated, “As a physician, I impact one patient in clinic. As a scientist, I can potentially impact hundreds to thousands through discoveries that change our understanding of disease or lead to new therapies. Systemic sclerosis is rare, without a cure and without effective treatment options. I find meaning in telling my patients with scleroderma that I am not only here to care for them today, but also actively working to uncover the science that could lead to better treatments for them and others.”
When asked, what are your future goals as a physician scientist, Dr. Padilla stated, “I am aiming to become an independent scleroderma investigator and lead a research program that directly informs the care of scleroderma patients.”
Recent Pitt-BWF Scholar Publications
- Van Natta BW, Molina CP, Antonelli V, GS, Badylak SF. Histomorphologic Outcomes of GalaFLEX Scaffold Used in Breast Surgery: Clinical Follow-up From 6 Weeks to 63 Months. Aesthet Surg J 2025 Jul 4:sjaf100. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjaf100. Online ahead of print PMID: 40614234
- Ho JC, Aung T, Damiani A, Tang L, Mallela AN, Crammond DJ, González-Martínez JA. Refining centromedian nucleus stimulation for generalized epilepsy with targeting and mechanistic insights from intraoperative electrophysiology. Nat Commun. 2025 Jun 6;16(1):5272. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60183-9. PMID: 40480982
- Abou-Al-Shaar H, Albalkhi I, Shariff RK, Mallela AN, Fazeli PK, Tos SM, Mantziaris G, Meng Y, Bernstein K, Kaisman-Elbaz T, Abofani H, Lin YY, Lee CC, Tripathi M, Upadhyay R, Palmer JD, Nabeel AM, Reda WA, Tawadros SR, Abdelkarim K, El-Shehaby AMN, Emad RM, Peker S, Samanci Y, Wegner RE, Shepard MJ, Liscak R, Simonova G, Almeida T, Benjamin C, Kondziolka D, Sheehan JP, Niranjan A, Hadjipanayis CG, Lunsford LD. Outcomes of stereotactic radiosurgery for pituitary metastases: an international multi-institutional study. Pituitary. 2025 May 29;28(3):69. doi: 10.1007/s11102-025-01542-z. PMID: 40442537
- Flores CV, Chan SY. Therapeutic targets for pulmonary arterial hypertension: insights into the emerging landscape. Expert Opin Ther Targets. 2025 Jun;29(6):327-343. doi: 10.1080/14728222.2025.2507034. Epub 2025 May 21. PMID: 40368635 Review.
- Hadjiyannis Y, Bubar R, Triulzi DJ, Kiss J, Marino CC, Windreich RM, Szabolcs P, Kaplan A. Prophylactic high-dose granulocyte transfusions following allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Vox Sang. 2025 May 14. doi: 10.1111/vox.70044. Online ahead of print. PMID: 40368633
- Hadjiyannis Y, Martinez MN, Pechacek J, Abukhiran I, Riley D, Pittaluga S, Morariu EM, Lionakis MS, Binion DG, Van Deusen R. Selective JAK1 inhibition remits multiorgan autoimmunity in a patient with refractory autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2025 Jun;155(6):2080-2083.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2025.03.026. Epub 2025 Apr 25. PMID: 40272341
- Reitz KM, Nassereldine H, Kennedy J, Zeh R, Khandwala F, Seymour CW, Quintana M, Viele K, Detry M, Morris A, Methe B, Zuckerbraun B, Girard TD, Marroquin OC, Esper S, Holder-Murray J, Newman AB, Billiar TR, Berry S, Angus DC, Neal MD. Strategies to Promote Resiliency: A Randomized Embedded Multifactorial Adaptative Platform (REMAP) Clinical Trial to Study Interventions to Improve Recovery After Surgery in High-Risk Patients. Ann Surg Open. 2025 Apr 2;6(2):e566. doi: 10.1097/AS9.0000000000000566. eCollection 2025 Jun. PMID: 40557356
- Huq S, McDowell MM, Alattar AA, Stefko ST, Gardner PA. Supraorbital Craniotomy for Microvascular Decompression of Optic Nerve Due to Neurovascular Conflict with Anterior Cerebral Artery: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery. Accepted
Latest Scholar Achievements
Dr. Kassandra Allbright presented the poster “Progenitor Cell Dysfunction and Senescence in COPD -- A Potential Novel Culprit: The Wnt Pathway Antagonist WIF1” at the American Thoracic Society annual meeting, May 16-22, 2025, in San Francisco, California.
Dr. Vincent Antonelli presented his research at the Biologic Scaffolds for Regenerative Medicine conference, May 1-5, 2025, in Napa, California. Titles were: “The Development of a Decellularized Retrievable Internal Wound Healing Device” (oral), and “Intraluminal Extracellular Matrix Therapy for Anastomotic Leak: A Novel Solution to a Persistent Challenge” (poster).
Dr. Yannis Hadjiyannis was selected to receive a Research in Emerging Areas Critical to Human Health LRP two-year award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Dr. Julia Leix was invited give an oral presentation of her work titled “NCOR1 is Amplified in Leiomyosarcoma and Osteosarcoma where its Expression Levels and Associated with Distinct Transcriptional States” at Pediatric Discovery Day at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, April 3, 2025.
Dr. Jetina Okereke presented two posters at the American Thoracic Society International Conference May 16-21, 2025, in San Francisco, California: “Examining Autoimmune Serological Markers and Disease Severity in Sarcoidosis Patients” and “Bystander Activation in CD8+ T cells in Patient with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis”.
Dr. Cristina Padilla was invited to chair the session “Cell based therapies – Part 1 Emerging immune cell therapies” at the 19th International Workshop on Scleroderma Research held at St John’s College, July 26-30, 2025, in Cambridge UK.
Dr. Hannah Rinehardt presented “Novel Transgenic Mouse Model of Congenital Choledochal Cyst” at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons, April 13-17, 2025, in Melbourne, Australia. In addition, Dr. Rinehardt’s research on “Inducible Genetic Mouse Model of Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm Using In vivo Adeno-Associated Virus with CRISPR-CAS9” was chosen for Plenary Presentation during the 66thAnnual Meeting of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract (SSAT) May 3-6, 2025, in San Diego, California. The abstract was also chosen for presentation at the 40th Annual SSAT Residents and Fellows Research Conference. Also, Dr. Rinehardt’s abstract, “Upfront versus Delayed Resection Equivocal in Locally Advanced Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor of the Kidney, A Pediatric Surgical Oncology Collaborative Study” was selected for podium presentation at the American Pediatric Surgical Association meeting, May 7-10, 2025, in Montreal, Canada.
Upcoming Pitt-BWF Classes/Events
August Research Planning I, Graphical Abstract Review, Writing Group
September Grant Review Process, Training Plans, Working w/ Executive Coaches
October Research Planning II and Biostats Bootcamp with Dr. Seyed Nouraie
Our weekly curriculum is open to interested trainees throughout Pitt. Contact our program administrator at lovaske1@pitt.edu for more information.
Funding Opportunity
The Burroughs Wellcome Fund Career Awards for Medical Scientists (CAMS) program is now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 application cycle. This award provides $700,000 over five years for physician-scientists, who are committed to an academic career, to bridge advanced postdoctoral/fellowship training and the early years of faculty service. This award is open to U.S. and Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and temporary residents.
AWARD AMOUNT: up to $700,000 over 5 years
APPLICATION DEADLINE: October 7, 2025, 3:00PM EST