A photo of Jennifer Picarsic.

Co-Director, Histiocytosis Center

Staff Pathologist, Division of Pathology

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

513-636-4261

Board Certified

"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."

My Biography & Research

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.

Clinical Interests

Pediatric pathology and histiocytic neoplasms and disorders

Research 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

Academic Affiliation

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

Clinical Divisions

Pathology, Histiocytosis Center

Research Divisions

Pathology

My Education

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.

My Publications

BRAF fusions in pediatric histiocytic neoplasms define distinct therapeutic responsiveness to RAF paradox breakers. Jain, P; Surrey, LF; Straka, J; Russo, P; Womer, R; Li, MM; Storm, PB; Waanders, AJ; Hogarty, MD; Resnick, AC; et al. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2021; 68.

Three decades of progress from surgery to medical therapy for isolated neuroaxis BRAF V600E–positive Langerhans cell histiocytosis management: illustrative case. Muthiah, N; Nowicki, KW; Picarsic, JL; D’Angelo, MP; Marker, DF; Andrews, EG; Monaco, EA; Niranjan, A. 2021; 1.

BRAFV600E-induced senescence drives Langerhans cell histiocytosis pathophysiology. Bigenwald, C; Le Berichel, J; Wilk, CM; Chakraborty, R; Chen, ST; Tabachnikova, A; Mancusi, R; Abhyankar, H; Casanova-Acebes, M; Laface, I; et al. Nature Medicine. 2021; 27:851-861.

Discrepancies between F-18-FDG PET/CT findings and conventional imaging in Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Ferrell, J; Sharp, S; Kumar, A; Jordan, M; Picarsic, J; Nelson, A. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2021; 68.

Interleukin-18 and cytotoxic impairment are independent and synergistic causes of murine virus-induced hyperinflammation. Tsoukas, P; Rapp, E; Van Der Kraak, L; Weiss, ES; Dang, V; Schneider, C; Klein, E; Picarsic, J; Salcedo, R; Stewart, CA; et al. Blood. 2020; 136:2162-2174.

Bone marrow-derived myeloid progenitors as driver mutation carriers in high- and low-risk Langerhans cell histiocytosis. Xiao, Y; Van Halteren, AG S; Lei, X; Steenwijk, E; De Wit, T; Grabowska, J; Voogd, R; Kemps, P; Picarsic, J; Van den Bos, C; et al. Blood. 2020; 136:2188-2199.

New molecular insights into the pathogenesis of lipoblastomas: clinicopathologic, immunohistochemical, and molecular analysis in pediatric cases. Lopez-Nunez, O; Alaggio, R; Ranganathan, S; Schmitt, L; John, I; Church, AJ; Picarsic, J. Human Pathology. 2020; 104:30-41.

Dasatinib induces a dramatic response in a child with refractory juvenile xanthogranuloma with a novel MRC1-PDGFRB fusion. Eissa, SS; Clay, MR; Santiago, T; Wu, G; Wang, L; Shulkin, BL; Picarsic, J; Nichols, KE; Campbell, PK. Blood Advances. 2020; 4:2991-2995.

Erdheim-Chester disease: consensus recommendations for evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment in the molecular era. Goyal, G; Heaney, ML; Collin, M; Cohen-Aubart, F; Vaglio, A; Durham, BH; Hershkovitz-Rokah, O; Girschikofsky, M; Jacobsen, ED; Toyama, K; et al. Blood. 2020; 135:1929-1945.

Fibrous histiocytoma/dermatofibroma in children: the same as adults?. Berklite, L; Ranganathan, S; John, I; Picarsic, J; Santoro, L; Alaggio, R. Human Pathology. 2020; 99:107-115.