News and Accolades
Uncovering the Causes of Fat Malabsorption in Cystic Fibrosis
New research led by Alison Kohan, PhD, investigates how CFTR dysfunction disrupts dietary fat absorption and whether targeted therapies and dietary changes can improve nutritional outcomes for people with cystic fibrosis.
Krithika Rao, PhD, Earns Competitive Medical Research Fund award to Study Vascular Remodeling
Rao will investigate how mitofusin-1 regulates vascular smooth muscle cell epigenetics, offering new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying vascular remodeling.
Exploring New Therapeutic Possibilities for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease
Co-led by Gavin Arteel, PhD, the study demonstrates the potential of matrix-bound nanovesicles to protect against alcohol-related liver injury.
A New Link Between Lung Disease and Cognitive Health
Research led by Stephen Chan uncovers inflammatory mechanisms linking pulmonary hypertension to cognitive impairment, opening new possibilities for diagnosis and treatment.
Pitt Gastroenterology Faculty Showcase Research at AASLD 2026
Faculty are contributing to more than 60 accepted abstracts at the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases’ annual meeting, highlighting the breadth of Pitt’s liver disease research.
John Kirkwood Recognized as Keynote Speaker for Distinguished Cancer Lecture
Kirkwood delivered the keynote address for the Thomas E. Richards Distinguished Lecture Series, reflecting on his career advancing melanoma research and transforming patient care.
Geriatrics, Infectious Diseases and Oncology Rank Among Global Leaders
Pitt’s strengths in geriatrics and gerontology, infectious diseases, and oncology helped place the University among the world’s leading institutions in the 2025–2026 University Ranking by Academic Performance.
Infectious Disease Surveillance Innovation Earns National Recognition
A genomic surveillance system developed by Lee Harrison, MD, and other Pitt researchers is helping UPMC detect and stop hospital-acquired infections before they spread, earning national recognition for its contributions to patient safety.
Dr. Diana Pinkhasova Helps Close Gaps in Osteoporosis Care After Fractures
Through a fracture liaison service at UPMC Mercy, Pinkhasova and her colleagues are working to ensure patients receive timely osteoporosis evaluation and treatment to reduce the risk of subsequent fractures.
Seeing the Heart Clearly for Nearly a Decade
Now in its second competitive renewal, the Cardiology Imaging T32, directed by Dr. Flordeliza Villanueva, trains physician-scientists and PhDs at the intersection of imaging and cardiovascular research, fostering dual expertise, translational discovery, and career independence.
From Separate Tracks to One Translational Community
With their new NCATS T32s and K12, the ICRE is bringing predoctoral students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career faculty into a shared translational science community, with a new emphasis on team leadership and moving discoveries from bench to bedside.
Bridging the Gap: Caring for Medically Complex Adults
As patients with complex medical needs transition from pediatric to adult care, PERC provides continuity and specialized support for patients and families, helping them navigate a critical transition for the last 20 years.
A New Chapter for Digestive Diseases at Pitt
Dr. Jaideep Behari, the new Chief of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, discusses his unexpected path to hepatology, lessons from his year as interim chief, and his vision for the division’s future.
A Moving Target: Advancing Cancer Immunotherapy
Cancer can change in response to its surroundings and to treatment, making resistance a moving target. Hillman Cancer Center researchers are studying these changes from multiple angles to develop more precise, durable, and adaptable approaches to cancer immunotherapy.
Kambez Benam to Lead $24.4 Million Award to Advance Viral Threat Preparedness
The Department of Medicine’s Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine faculty member will lead a five-year initiative using human organ-on-a-chip models to advance research on viral infections and potential treatments.
PACCSM Researchers Challenge Assumptions About a Common Lung Fungus
Drs. William Bain and Georgios Kitsios are investigating how Candida albicans, long considered harmless in the lungs, may contribute to lung injury in critically ill patients.
Department of Medicine Faculty Receive Four Clinical Transformation Program Grants
Beckwith Institute funding will support projects exploring new approaches to behavioral health, Sjögren’s disease, Fontan-associated exercise intolerance, and lung transplant rejection
Frank Sciurba, MD, Helps Lead Trials of Promising New COPD Therapy
Sciurba co-led international clinical trials that show that the investigational biologic therapy tozorakimab significantly reduced COPD exacerbations in patients receiving standard treatment.
Seven Investigators Selected for 2026 ASPIRE Awards
New cohort will receive up to $70,000 and two years of mentoring to expand their research programs and pursue additional R-level funding
EMBARC Launches Inaugural Cohort of Physician Leaders
Year-long leadership development program prepares physicians for future leadership roles across the academic medical center