Jennifer L. Picarsic, MD
- Co-Director, Histiocytosis Center
- Staff Pathologist, Division of Pathology
- Associate Professor, UC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
- jennifer.picarsic@cchmc.org
- Board Certified
About
Biography
As a pediatric pathologist, I study cells on a slide to help make a diagnosis. I specialize in histiocytic neoplasms, a rare group of white blood cell disorders that affect both pediatric and adult patients. I review pathology consultations from around the world right here at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Every tissue slide I examine represents a patient. I care deeply about providing the most accurate and timely diagnosis based on the advanced tools available to me as a pathologist.
I enjoy seeing diseases in full color under the microscope, and now with digital pathology technology, also on the computer screen. Although I don't typically see patients in person, I do know them through their tissues and disease. I am honored to provide "behind the scenes" education to doctors about diseases so they can treat patients in the best manner.
As the co-director of the Histiocytosis Center at Cincinnati Children’s together with Dr. Ashish Kumar of the Cincinnati Children’s Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, we are leading the field in the diagnosis and treatment of LCH and related histiocytic diseases.
My research focuses on the pathobiology of histiocytic neoplasms.
I was honored to be the 2018 recipient of the Histiocyte Society’s Nesbit Award in Clinical Science. The award honors collaborative research efforts on the molecular biology of juvenile xanthogranuloma lesions.
In my free time, I am an avid bike spinner, lover of travel, and hold another full-time job as a mother of two.
MD: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 2007.
Residency: Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA.
Fellowship: Pediatric Pathology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Diplomat of the American Board of Pathology: American Board of Pathology, Combined Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, 2011; American Board of Pediatric Pathology, 2012.
Interests
Pediatric pathology and histiocytic neoplasms and disorders
Services and Specialties
Pathology, Histiocytosis Center
Interests
Histiocytic neoplasms and disorders including Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), Erdheim Chester disease (ECD), Rosai-Dorfman-Destombes disease (RDD), juvenile xanthogranuloma family (JXG), malignant histiocytic neoplasms, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and macrophage activation syndrome (HLH/MAS); secondary research areas: heart transplant pathology, digital pathology, and improving the educational experiences for academic trainees
Research Areas
Pathology
Publications
Histiocytic disorders. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. 2021; 7.
BRAF fusions in pediatric histiocytic neoplasms define distinct therapeutic responsiveness to RAF paradox breakers. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2021; 68.
BRAFV600E-induced senescence drives Langerhans cell histiocytosis pathophysiology. Nature Medicine. 2021; 27:851-861.
Discrepancies between F-18-FDG PET/CT findings and conventional imaging in Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2021; 68.
Activating mutations in CSF1R and additional receptor tyrosine kinases in histiocytic neoplasms. Nature Medicine. 2019; 25:1839-1842.
BRAF V600E mutation in Juvenile Xanthogranuloma family neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS-JXG): a revised diagnostic algorithm to include pediatric Erdheim-Chester disease. Acta neuropathologica communications. 2019; 7.
Mechanisms of action of ruxolitinib in murine models of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Blood. 2019; 134:147-159.
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