Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency

Michael S. Grimley, MD Member, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Center

has clinical research interests in the treatment of graft versus host disease (GVHD) after transplant and the use of umbilical cord blood as a stem cell source.

513-636-5917 michael.grimley@cchmc.org

High Res

Michael S. Grimley, MD

Member, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Center

Member, Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute

Academic Affiliations

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-5917

Fax 513-803-1969

Email michael.grimley@cchmc.org

Show All

Clinical Interests

Bone marrow transplantation for primary immunodeficiencies; cord blood transplants; leukemia

MD: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 1992.

Residency: Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland, AFB, TX, 1995.

Fellowship: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, 1999.

Certification: General Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

Licenses: Ohio, Texas.

Jubert C, Wall DA, Grimley M, Champagne MA, Duval M. Engraftment of unrelated cord blood after reduced-intensity conditioning regimen in children with refractory neuroblastoma: a feasibility trial. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2011 Feb;46(2):232-7.

Jacobson PA, Huang J, Wu J, Kim M, Logan B, Alousi A, Grimley M, Bolaños-Meade J, Ho V, Levine JE, Weisdorf D. Mycophenolate pharmacokinetics and association with response to acute graft-versus-host disease treatment from the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2010 Mar;16(3):421-9.

Jacobsohn DA, Gilman AL, Rademaker A, Browning B, Grimley M, Lehmann L, Nemecek ER, Thormann K, Schultz KR, Vogelsang GB. Evaluation of pentostatin in corticosteroid-refractory chronic graft-versus-host disease in children: a Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium study. Blood. 2009 Nov 12;114(20):4354-60.

Pulsipher MA, Wall DA, Grimley M, Goyal RK, Boucher KM, Hankins P, Grupp SA, Bunin N. A phase I/II study of the safety and efficacy of the addition of sirolimus to tacrolimus/methotrexate graft versus host disease prophylaxis after allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation in paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Br J Haematol. 2009 Dec;147(5):691-9.

Pulsipher MA, Boucher KM, Wall D, Frangoul H, Duval M, Goyal RK, Shaw PJ, Haight AE, Grimley M, Grupp SA, Kletzel M, Kadota R. Reduced-intensity allogeneic transplantation in pediatric patients ineligible for myeloablative therapy: results of the Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium Study ONC0313. Blood. 2009 Aug 13;114(7):1429-36.

Chan KW, McDonald L, Lim D, Grimley MS, Grayson G, Wall DA. Unrelated cord blood transplantation in children with idiopathic severe aplastic anemia. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2008 Nov;42(9):589-95.

Chan KW, Grimley MS, Taylor C, Wall DA. Early identification and management of graft failure after unrelated cord blood transplantation. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2008 Jul;42(1):35-41.

Swinney RM, Wall DA, Thomas PJ, Grimley MS, Taylor C, Tomlinson GE. Familial childhood leukemia cluster with multiple aggressive early-onset hematological malignancies. Leuk Lymphoma. 2006 May;47(5):930-2.

Shaughnessy PJ, Bachier C, Grimley M, Freytes CO, Callander NS, Essell JH, Flomenberg N, Selby G, Lemaistre CF. Denileukin diftitox for the treatment of steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2005 Mar;11(3):188-93.

Parker A, Anderson C, Weiss KL, Grimley M, Sorrells D. Eukaryotic initiation factor 4E staining as a clinical marker in pediatric neuroblastoma. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2004 Aug;26(8):484-7.

Michael B. Jordan, MD Member, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Center

specializes in caring for children with histiocytic disorders, primary immune deficiencies, or who are undergoing bone marrow transplantation. His laboratory focuses on understanding effector T cell function, immune regulation, and the pathogenesis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. He is also conducting preclinical scientific studies in addition to a translational clinical trial.

513-636-7287 michael.jordan@cchmc.org

High Res

Michael B. Jordan, MD

Member, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Center

Member, Division of Immunobiology

Member, Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute

Academic Affiliations

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-7287

Fax 513-803-1969

Email michael.jordan@cchmc.org

Show All

Clinical & Research Interests

Clinical

Histiocytic disorders: HLH and LCH

Research

Better understanding histiocytic disorders and developing novel therapies for them; regulation of the immune response; immunotherapy of cancer

MD: UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX, 1993.

Residency: Children's Hospital of Dallas, Dallas, TX, 1996.

Fellowship: The Children's Hospital, Denver, CO, 2002.

Certification: American Board of Pediatrics, 1996; Sub-board of Pediatric Heme/Onc, 2002.

Mehta PA, Vinks AA, Filipovich A, Bleesing J, Jodele S, Jordan MB, Marsh R, Tarin R, Edwards S, Fearing D, Lawrence J, Davies SM. Alternate-day micafungin antifungal prophylaxis in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a pharmacokinetic study. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2010 Oct;16(10):1458-62.

Marsh RA, Madden L, Kitchen BJ, Mody R, McClimon B, Jordan MB, Bleesing JJ, Zhang K, Filipovich AH. XIAP deficiency: a unique primary immunodeficiency best classified as X-linked familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and not as X-linked lymphoproliferative disease. Blood. 2010 Aug 19;116(7):1079-82.

Marsh RA, Satake N, Biroschak J, Jacobs T, Johnson J, Jordan MB, Bleesing JJ, Filipovich AH, Zhang K. STX11 mutations and clinical phenotypes of familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in North America. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010 Jul 15;55(1):134-40.

Lykens JE, Terrell CE, Zoller EE, Divanovic S, Trompette A, Karp CL, Aliberti J, Flick MJ, Jordan MB. Mice with a selective impairment of IFN-gamma signaling in macrophage lineage cells demonstrate the critical role of IFN-gamma-activated macrophages for the control of protozoan parasitic infections in vivo. J Immunol. 2010 Jan 15;184(2):877-85.

Lin AA, Tripathi PK, Sholl A, Jordan MB, Hildeman DA. Gamma interferon signaling in macrophage lineage cells regulates central nervous system inflammation and chemokine production. J Virol. 2009 Sep;83(17):8604-15.

Marsh RA, Villanueva J, Kim MO, Zhang K, Marmer D, Risma KA, Jordan MB, Bleesing JJ, Filipovich AH. Patients with X-linked lymphoproliferative disease due to BIRC4 mutation have normal invariant natural killer T-cell populations. Clin Immunol. 2009 Jul;132(1):116-23.

Marsh RA, Villanueva J, Zhang K, Snow AL, Su HC, Madden L, Mody R, Kitchen B, Marmer D, Jordan MB, Risma KA, Filipovich AH, Bleesing JJ. A rapid flow cytometric screening test for X-linked lymphoproliferative disease due to XIAP deficiency. Cytometry B Clin Cytom. 2009 Sep;76(5):334-44.

Jordan MB, Filipovich AH. Hematopoietic cell transplantation for hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single (big) step. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2008 Oct;42(7):433-7.

Wojciechowski S, Jordan MB, Zhu Y, White J, Zajac AJ, Hildeman DA. Bim mediates apoptosis of CD127(lo) effector T cells and limits T cell memory. Eur J Immunol. 2006 Jul;36(7):1694-706.

Ashish R. Kumar, MD, PhD Director, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Center

is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist whose lab is investigating the biology childhood cancers and blood diseases. The current focus of research in the lab is on infant leukemia and LCH.
Visit the Kumar Lab.

513-803-1631 ashish.kumar@cchmc.org

High Res

Ashish R. Kumar, MD, PhD

Director, Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis Center

Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program

Member, Hematological Malignancy Program

Member, Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute

Academic Affiliations

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-803-1631

Fax 513-636-3549

Email ashish.kumar@cchmc.org

Show All

Clinical & Research Interests

Clinical

Childhood cancer and blood disorders; immune deficiency

Research

Leukemia biology; cancer biology

Visit the Kumar Lab.

Biography

Visit the HLH Center of Excellence.

Dr. Kumar received his medical degree from L.T.M. Medical College, Mumbai, India, his PhD in anatomy and cell biology from the University of Iowa, pediatric residency training at the Mayo Clinic and fellowship in pediatric hematology / oncology / BMT at the University of Minnesota. He was appointed to the faculty of the University of Minnesota in the Department of Pediatrics where he was a member of the programs in pediatric leukemia and global pediatrics. He is currently an associate professor of pediatrics in the Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency at Cincinnati Children's within the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Dr. Kumar’s laboratory is engaged in researching the biology of infant leukemia. Discoveries made in his laboratory have significantly enhanced the current understanding of leukemia. Dr. Kumar is also active in education. He has delivered invited lectures and grand round presentations on various topics.

Learn more about the 700 Miles to Hope Bike Ride.

MD: LTM Medical College, Mumbai, India.

Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Fellowship: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.

PhD: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA.

Certification: General Pediatrics; Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Subspecialty.

Licenses: State of Ohio; State of Minnesota.

Aydin SE, Kilic SS, Aytekin C, Kumar A, Porras O, Kainulainen L, Kostyuchenko L, Genel F, Kütükcüler N, Karaca N, Gonzalez-Granado L, Abbott J, Al-Zahrani D, Rezaei N, Baz Z, Thiel J, Ehl S, Marodi L, Orange JS, Sawalle-Belohradsky J, Keles S, Holland SM, Sanal Ö, Ayvaz DC, Tezcan I, Al-Mousa H, Alsum Z, Hawwari A, Metin A, Matthes-Martin S, Hönig M, Schulz A, Picard C, Barlogis V, Gennery A, Ifversen M, van Montfrans J, Kuijpers T, Bredius R, Dückers G, Al-Herz W, Pai SY, Geha R, Notheis G, Schwarze CP, Tavil B, Azik F, Bienemann K, Grimbacher B, Heinz V, Gaspar HB, Aydin R, Hagl B, Gathmann B, Belohradsky BH, Ochs HD, Chatila T, Renner ED, Su H, Freeman AF, Engelhardt K, Albert MH; inborn errors working party of EBMT. DOCK8 Deficiency: Clinical and Immunological Phenotype and Treatment Options - a Review of 136 Patients. J Clin Immunol. 2015 Feb;35(2):189-98.

Roychoudhury J, Clark JP, Gracia-Maldonado G, Unnisa Z, Wunderlich M, Link KA, Dasgupta N, Aronow B, Huang G, Mulloy JC, Kumar AR. MEIS1 regulates an HLF-oxidative stress axis in MLL-fusion gene leukemia. Blood. 2015;125(16):2544-52.

Marsh RA, Rao MB, Gefen A, Bellman D, Mehta PA, Khandelwal P, Chandra S, Jodele S, Myers KC, Grimley M, Dandoy C, El-Bietar J, Kumar AR, Leemhuis T, Zhang K, Bleesing JJ, Jordan MB, Filipovich AH, Davies SM. Experience with Alemtuzumab, Fludarabine, and Melphalan Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Patients with Nonmalignant Diseases Reveals Good Outcomes and That the Risk of Mixed Chimerism Depends on Underlying Disease, Stem Cell Source, and Alemtuzumab Regimen. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2015 Aug;21(8):1460-70.

Cai X, Gao L, Teng L, Ge J, Oo ZM, Kumar AR, Gilliland DG, Mason PJ, Tan K, Speck NA. Runx1 Deficiency Decreases Ribosome Biogenesis and Confers Stress Resistance to Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells. Cell Stem Cell. 2015 Jul;pii:S1934-5909(15)00262-3.

Karkare S, Chhipa RR, Anderson J, Liu X, Henry H, Gasilina A, Nassar N, Roychoudhury J, Clark JP, Kumar A, Pauletti GM, Ghosh PK, Dasgupta B. Direct inhibition of retinoblastoma phosphorylation by nimbolide causes cell-cycle arrest and suppresses glioblastoma growth. Clin Cancer Res. 2014 Jan;20(1):199-212.

Khandelwal P, Lawrence J, Filipovich AH, Davies SM, Bleesing JJ, Jordan MB, Mehta P, Jodele S, Grimley MS, Kumar A, Myers K, Marsh RA. The successful use of alemtuzumab for treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease in pediatric patients. Pediatr Transplant. 2014 Feb;18(1):94.

Liu X, Chhipa RR, Pooya S, Wortman M, Yachyshin S, Chow LM, Kumar A, Zhou X, Sun Y, Quinn B, McPherson C, Warnick RE, Kendler A, Giri S, Poels J, Norga K, Viollet B, Grabowski GA, Dasgupta B. Discrete mechanisms of mTOR and cell cycle regulation by AMPK agonists independent of AMPK. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2014 Jan;111(4):E435-44.

Zhou J, Wu J, Li B, Liu D, Yu J, Yan X, Zheng S, Wang J, Zhang L, Zhang L, He F, Li Q, Chen A, Zhang Y, Zhao X, Guan Y, Zhao X, Yan J, Ni J, Nobrega MA, Löwenberg B, Delwel R, Valk PJ, Kumar A, Xie L, Tenen DG, Huang G, Wang QF. PU.1 is Essential for MLL Leukemia Partially via Crosstalk with the MEIS/HOX Pathway. Leukemia. 2014 Jul;28(7):1436-48.

Jing H, Zhang Q, Zhang Y, Hill BJ, Dove CG, Gelfand EW, Atkinson TP, Uzel G, Matthews HF, Mustillo PJ, Lewis DB, Kavadas FD, Hanson IC, Kumar AR, Geha RS, Douek DC, Holland SM, Freeman AF, Su HC. Somatic reversion in dedicator of cytokinesis 8 immunodeficiency modulates disease phenotype. The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology. 2014 Jun;133(6):1667-75.

Marsh RA, Rao K, Satwani P, Lehmberg K, Müller I, Li D, Kim MO, Fischer A, Latour S, Sedlacek P, Barlogis V, Hamamoto K, Kanegane H, Milanovich S, Margolis DA, Dimmock D, Casper JT, Douglas DN, Amrolia PJ, Veys P, Kumar AR, Jordan BM, Bleesing J, Filipovich A. Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for XIAP Deficiency: An International Survey Reveals Poor Outcomes. Blood. 2013 Feb 7;121(6):877-83.

Grants

Role of MEIS1 in hematopoiesis and hematopoietic transformation. Principal Investigator. National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Jul 2012-Jun 2017.

Novel therapeutics of targeting mTOR pathway in T-cell leukemia. Co-investigator. National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute. Jul 2015-Jun 2017.

Rebecca A. Marsh, MD Clinical Director, Primary Immune Deficiency Program

is an immunologist and bone marrow transplant physician. Her research focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of HLH in patients with XIAP deficiency, developing new diagnostic laboratory assays, and improving the outcomes of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in patients with primary immune deficiencies.

513-803-9063 hlh@cchmc.org

High Res

Rebecca A. Marsh, MD

Clinical Director, Primary Immune Deficiency Program

Co-Director, Diagnostic Immunology Laboratories

Member, Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute

Academic Affiliations

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-803-9063

Fax 513-636-3549

Email hlh@cchmc.org

Show All

BS: University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 1998.

MD: Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL, 2003.

Residency: Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, 2006.

Fellowship: Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2008.

Zhang K, Jordan MB, Marsh RA, Johnson JA, Kissell D, Meller J, Villanueva J, Risma KA, Wei Q, Klein PS, Filipovich AH. Hypomorphic mutations in PRF1, MUNC13-4, and STXBP2 are associated with adult-onset familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Blood. 2011 Aug 31.

Marsh RA, Jordan MB, Filipovich AH. Reduced-intensity conditioning haematopoietic cell transplantation for haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: an important step forward. British journal of haematology. 2011 Sep;154(5):556-63.

Marsh RA, Bleesing JJ, Filipovich AH. Using flow cytometry to screen patients for X-linked lymphoproliferative disease due to SAP deficiency and XIAP deficiency. Journal of immunological methods. 2010 Oct 31;362(1-2):1-9.

Hinze CH, Lucky AW, Bove KE, Marsh RA, Bleesing JH, Passo MH. Leukocyte adhesion deficiency type 1 presenting with recurrent pyoderma gangrenosum and flaccid scarring. Pediatric dermatology. 2010 Sep-Oct;27(5):500-3.

Filipovich AH, Zhang K, Snow AL, Marsh RA. X-linked lymphoproliferative syndromes: brothers or distant cousins? Blood. 2010 Nov 4;116(18):3398-408.

Kasiani C. Myers, MD Member, Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute

is a bone marrow transplant physician focused on translational research in bone marrow failure and Fanconi anemia (FA), specifically the longitudinal evaluation of hematopoiesis in FA as a model for de novo leukemogenesis. These studies will lead to development and clinical trials of targeted therapies to preserve stem cell function through the elucidation of the steps in the pathway towards marrow failure and malignant transformation.

513-636-7287 kasiani.myers@cchmc.org

High Res

Kasiani C. Myers, MD

Member, Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute

Academic Affiliations

Assistant Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-7287

Email kasiani.myers@cchmc.org

Show All

Biography

Dr. Myers received her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University and pursued training in pediatrics and hematology/oncology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. After completion of her postdoctoral training, she joined the faculty of the Division of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Immune Deficiency at Cincinnati Children’s within the UC Department of Pediatrics. She is a recipient of the Procter Scholar Award to support her translational research in the field of Fanconi anemia.

BS: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 2000.

MD: Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 2004.

Post-Doctoral: Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, 2010.

Certification: Pediatrics, 2007.

Myers KC, Bolyard AA, Otto B, Wong TE, Jones A, Harris RE, MD, Davies SM, Dale DC, and Shimamura A. Variable Clinical Presentation of Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome: Update From the North-American Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Registry. J Pediatr. 2013 Dec 31.

Myers KC, Rose SR, Rutter MM, Mehta PA, Khoury JC, Cole T, Harris RE. Endocrine Evaluation of Children with and without Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond Syndrome Gene Mutations and Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome. J Pediatr. 2013 Jun;162(6):1235-40.

Myers KC, Lawrence J, Marsh RA, Davies SM, Jodele S. High-Dose Methylprednisolone for Veno-Occlusive Disease of the Liver in Pediatric Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Recipients. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2013 Mar;19(3):500-3.

Myers KC, Davies SM, Shimamura A. Clinical and Molecular Pathophysiology of Shwachman–Diamond Syndrome: An Update. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2013 Feb;27(1):117-28.

Rose RS, Myers K, Rutter MM, Mueller R, Khoury JC, Mehta PA, Harris RE, Davies SM, Endocrine Phenotype of Children and Adults with Fanconi Anemia. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2012 Oct;59(4):690-6.

Du W, Rani R, Sipple J, Schick J, Myers KC, Mehta P, Andreassen PR, Davies SM, Pang Q, The FA pathway counteracts oxidative stress through selective protection of antioxidant defense gene promoters. Blood. 2012 May 3;119(18):4142-51.

Myers K, Davies SM, Harris RE, Spunt SL, Smolarek TA, Zimmerman S, McMasters R, Wagner L, Mueller R, Auerbach AD, Mehta PA. The Clinical Phenotype of Children with Fanconi Anemia Caused by Biallelic FANCD1/BRCA2 Mutations. Pediatric Blood and Cancer. 2012 Mar;58(3): 462-5.

Myers KC, Bleesing JJ, Davies, SM, Zhang X, Martin LJ, Mueller R, Harris RE, Filipovich AH, Butsch Kovacic M, Wells SI, Mehta PA. Impaired Immune Function in Children with Fanconi Anemia. Br J Haematol. 2011 Jul;154(2):234-40.

Mehta PA, Harris RE, Davies SM, Kim MO, Mueller R, Lampkin B, Mo J, Myers K, Smolarek TA. Numerical chromosomal changes and risk of development of myelodysplastic syndrome--acute myeloid leukemia in patients with Fanconi anemia. Cancer Genet Cytogenet. 2010 Dec;203(2):180-6.

Kimberly A. Risma, MD, PhD Director, Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program

is focused on the molecular and cellular bases of primary disorders of immune deficiency and dysregulation, especially as it relates to lymphocyte cytotoxicity. She studies the pathologic consequences of missense mutations in perforin identified in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and strives to develop novel therapies through gene therapy or small molecule chaperones.
Visit the Risma Lab website.

513-636-6771 kimberly.risma@cchmc.org

High Res

Kimberly A. Risma, MD, PhD

Director, Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program

Academic Affiliations

Associate Professor, UC Department of Pediatrics

Phone 513-636-6771

Fax 513-636-5835

Email kimberly.risma@cchmc.org

Show All

Clinical & Research Interests

Visit the Risma Lab website.

Clinical

Immune deficiency; immune dysregulation

Research

Pathophysiology of perforin missense mutations identified in individuals with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; molecular mechanisms of primary immune deficiency and dysregulation; natural killer cell and cytotoxic T lymphocyte cytotoxicity

Biography

Kimberly Risma, MD, PhD, is an associate professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children’s within the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

Dr. Risma graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry from Duke University in 1990 and was elected into The Phi Beta Kappa Society. She then matriculated at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) School of Medicine in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). In 1996, she completed a PhD in pharmacology. She was selected by the leadership of the CWRU MSTP as the recipient of the 1997 Martin Wahl Memorial Fund Award, given annually to recognize the graduating MD, PhD student who has demonstrated the highest level of independence in research and excellence in research and clinical skills. She was also elected to Alpha Omega Alpha Society in 1997.

In 1997, she enrolled in a pediatrics residency at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center/University of Cincinnati. During the residency program, Dr. Risma was awarded the pediatric resident teaching award by the medical students. She also engaged in translational research studies related to the genetics of asthma under the mentorship of Dr. Gurjit Hershey, resulting in a first author publication as a pediatric resident.

In 2000, Dr. Risma was accepted to the Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program at Cincinnati Children’s. In addition to her clinical training, she pursued an innovative research project under the mentorship of Dr. Janos Sumegi and Dr. Alexandra Filipovich. She proposed a mechanism to study the structural and functional impact of perforin missense mutations identified in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. In 2004 she was awarded the Nezelof Prize for best scientific presentation at the international meeting of the Histiocyte Society. The culmination of her fellowship research project was published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2006.

Upon completion of her fellowship in 2005, Dr. Risma was appointed as an assistant professor in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center within the UC Department of Pediatrics. In 2006 Dr. Risma received a Clinical Scientist Development Award from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Dr. Risma is the director of the Allergy and Immunology Fellowship Program at Cincinnati Children's, having served in this leadership position since August of 2012.

Dr. Risma's research program focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of immunodeficiency and immune dysregulation in children, especially as it relates to disorders of lymphocyte cytotoxicity. In addition to her research, she sees patients from all around the country in consultation for primary immune deficiency, immune dysregulation, and allergic disorders.

MD: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 1997.

PhD: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, 1996.

Residency: Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 1997-2000.

Fellowship: Allergy / Immunology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

Certification: Pediatrics, 2007; Allergy and Immunology, 2005.