7 outstanding young gastroenterologists receive AGA Foundation 2008 Research Scholars Award

Prestigious program encourages young investigators in academic gastroenterology

The Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition has announced the 2008 American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) Foundation Research Scholars. The grants have been awarded to seven outstanding young gastroenterologists who promise to make significant strides in the field of gastrointestinal research.

The prestigious Research Scholar Awards offer each scientist a total award of $225,000 to help support his or her research over a three-year period. The goal of the Research Scholar Awards is to guarantee the perpetuation of strong science through the encouragement of young physician investigators and ultimately to improve patient care through digestive diseases research.

These extremely competitive awards ensure that bright, young physicians and scientists devote their careers to advancing the field of digestive health through research. Awards are based on the qualifications of the candidate, the quality of the candidate's research proposal and the commitment of the candidate's institution to protect 70 percent of his or her time for research.

The 2008 AGA Research Scholars are:

Edda Fiebiger, PhD
Studies on the Role of IgE-Fc-epsilon-RI-mediated Immune Responses in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Children's Hospital Boston

Lara Gawenis, PhD
Transepithelial HCO3 - Transport in Murine Proximal Colon
University of Utah

Pradipta Ghosh, MB, BS, MD
The Role of G proteins and GIV/Girdin in Cell Migration: Implications in Colon Cancer Metastases
University of California, San Diego

Yuko Mori-Akiyama, MD
The Role of SOX9 in the Intestinal Epithelium and in Colorectal Cancer Progression
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Richard J. Saad, MD
(Designated RSA related to Geriatrics)
The Differences in Physiologic Mechanisms Underlying Chronic Constipation in Elderly Versus Younger Adults with Constipation
University of Michigan

Kirsten Sadler-Edepli, M.M.SC, PhD
Using Zebrafish to Uncover the Role of the Unfolded Protein Response in Steatosis
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York