2011 IFFGD Research Award Recipients

On April 8, 2011 IFFGD presented Research Awards totalling $45,000 recognizing 6 active investigators with records of research interest in basic mechanisms or clinical aspects of functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders. The awards support and encourage the participation of clinicians and scientists in multidisciplinary efforts aimed at advancing the understanding of these disorders in adults and in children.

The award recipients were honored at the 9th International Symposium on Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders in Milwaukee, WI. Presentation of the awards was made by Nancy Norton, President, IFFGD; Stephen P. James, MD, Director, Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the NIH; and Douglas Drossman, MD, Chair, IFFGD Research Awards Peer-Review Scientific Selection Committee.

2011 Research Awards

Left to Right, 1st Row Presenters: Stephen James, MD; William Norton, IFFGD; Nancy Norton, IFFGD; Douglas Drossman, MD; 2nd Row Award Winners: Million Mulegeta, MD; Shaman Rajindrajith, MD; Sudarshan Jadcherla, MD; Samuel Nurko, MD; Adrian Mranda, MD; Ronnie Fass, MD.

We congratulate the 2011 IFFGD Research Award recipients for their outstanding achievements. 

Senior Investigator – Clinical Science

Ronnie Fass, MD, FACP, FACG
University of Arizona and Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tuscon, AZ 
Research Areas of Interest: Understanding the upper digestive tract with the goal to improve diagnosis and treatment of conditions such as reflux disease, functional heartburn, noncardiac chest pain, gastroparesis, and Barrett’s esophagus.

Senior Investigator – Basic Science

Million Mulugeta, MVSc, DVM, PhD
UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Research Areas of Interest: Understanding of the processes underlying stress-related gastrointestinal disorders in order to develop effective therapies. Examining the molecular basis of compounds related to the body’s reaction to stress, and the impact these compounds have on digestive functioning and pain response. 

Junior Investigator – Basic Science

Adrian Miranda, MD
The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
Research Areas of Interest: Intestinal pain and functional bowel disorders, including understanding how an adverse, early life experience can cause physical changes in the body that can cause painful conditions affecting the digestive tract later in life. Looking at new pathways in the development of pain sensitivity and changes in the structure and function of nerves. 

Senior Investigator – Pediatrics

Samuel Nurko, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School and Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA
Research Areas of Interest: Multiple digestive problems in children ranging from understanding and treating pediatric defecation problems to examining different aspects of upper-digestive tract conditions present in childhood, particularly esophageal motility disorders and the effect of inflammation on motility. 

Senior Investigator – Pediatrics

Sudarshan Jadcherla, MD, FRCP, DCH
The Ohio State University College of Medicine and The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH
Research Areas of Interest: Studies of the upper digestive tract including the physical and molecular mechanisms of swallowing and airway protection, with a goal of improving safe feeding in children. Clinical research aimed at improving diagnosis and treatments in infant dysphagia, GERD, and chronic lung disease. 

Junior Investigator – Pediatrics

Shaman Rajindrajith, MBBS, MD, MRCPCH
University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka
Research Areas of Interest: Better understanding of functional gastrointestinal and motility diseases in children, particularly in the developing world, including gastrointestinal motility in children with abdominal pain related disorders, understanding of aerophagia and cyclic vomiting in Sri Lankan children, and quality of life issues in children.

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What are Basic and Clinical Science?

Basic Science is the fundamental approach to understanding how systems work. Basic research takes place in the laboratory and often involves the study of molecules and cells.

Clinical Science is the approach aimed at understanding the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders through studies involving people, usually carried out in clinical settings.