OMB No. 0925-0001/0002 (Rev. 08/12 Approved Through 8/31/2015)
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
Provide the following information for the Senior/key personnel and other significant contributors.
Follow this format for each person. DO NOT EXCEED FOUR PAGES.
NAME
POSITION TITLE
Elizabeth O’Brien Stenger, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login)
estenger
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, include postdoctoral training and
residency training if applicable.)
DEGREE
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
(if
MM/YY
FIELD OF STUDY
applicable)
University of Notre Dame; South Bend, IN
B.S.
05/02
Science Pre-professional
Studies
University of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA
M.D.
05/06
Medicine
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA
06/09
Pediatric residency
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA
06/12
Pediatric HematologyOncology fellowship
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; Pittsburgh, PA
06/13
Pediatric Blood and
Marrow Transplantation
fellowship
Emory University; Atlanta, GA
05/15
(Anticipated)
Certificate in Translational
Research
A. Personal Statement
My research interests are in improving outcomes for pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation (HSCT) for non-malignant disorders (NMD). My clinical and research backgrounds are a
significant strength to pursue these research goals. I have clinical training in pediatric blood and marrow
transplantation, including a 4th year of fellowship under Dr. Paul Szabolcs, who has expertise in HSCT for
NMD. I spent the approximately 2.5 years of research time during fellowship in a basic science laboratory
under the guidance of Dr. Angus Thomson at the University of Pittsburgh Starzl Transplant Institute where I
studied cell-based immunotherapy to inhibit immune-mediated complications of HSCT (specifically dendritic
cells to inhibit graft-versus-host disease [GVHD]). I joined the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology in
August 2013 after completing my fellowship training. In this position, I enrolled in the Certificate Program in
Translational Research through the Atlanta Clinical and Translational Science Institute (ACTSI). I have also
recently applied for a position in the KL2-MCTRS Program through the ACTSI which would allow for me to
transition from the Certificate Program to the full MSCR Program for additional structured training in clinical
research. I have begun collaborating with Dr. Jacques Galipeau and Dr. Lakshmanan Krishnamurti (who will
be joining the faculty as the Director of Pediatric BMT in May 2014) on novel laboratory-based studies of
mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) from patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), including further evaluation of
cytokine priming MSCs as a method to enhance their pharmaceutical capacity. MSCs, by virtue of their dual
potential to support donor hematopoiesis and inhibit residual recipient T-cells, seem uniquely suited to
overcome the significant barrier of engraftment following unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
(HSCT) for SCD. The proposed studies will provide preliminary data to support IND application for use of
autologous MSCs to enhance engraftment in patients undergoing haploidentical HSCT for severe SCD. I am
also co-principal investigator for a pilot study of Abatacept (CTLA4 blockade) to prevent GVHD in pediatric
patients undergoing HSCT for NMD and the site PI for the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium,
a U54 sponsored program investigating the outcomes for patients undergoing HSCT for primary immune
deficiencies.
Positions and Honors
Positions and Employment
2000
Research Assistant, Dr. Joanne Andreadis, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC
2002-2006
Medical Student, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
2006-2009
Resident in Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2009-2012
Fellow in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
2012-2013
Fellow in Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh, PA
2013-Pres.
Assistant Professor, Clinical Track, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric
Hematology/Oncology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
Professional Memberships
2010-Pres.
American Society of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
2011-Pres.
American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation
2012-Pres.
American Society of Transplantation
2012-Pres.
American Society of Hematology
Honors
2006
2012
2013
2013
The Michael J. Painter, MD Award for Excellence in Pediatric Neurology
American Transplant Congress, selected for oral abstract presentation, Boston MA
The Future of Stem Cell Transplantation: 2nd Annual Mentoring Program for Stem Cell
Transplantation Fellows, Dallas TX. Podium presentation.
Emory Courtesy Scholarship, Certificate Program in Translational Research
B. Publications
Refereed Articles
1. Rosen P, Stenger E, Bochkoris M, Hannon, MJ, Kwoh CK. Family-centered multidisciplinary rounds
enhance the team approach in pediatrics. Pediatrics 2009; 123 (4): e603-608. PMID: 19336351.
2. Stenger EO, Turnquist HR, Mapara MY, Thomson AW. Dendritic cells and regulation of graft-versus-host
disease and graft-versus-leukemia activity. Blood 2012; 119 (22): 5088-5103. PMID: 22403259.
3. Stenger EO, Rosborough BR, Mathews LR, Ma H, Mapara MY, Thomson AW and Turnquist HR. IL-12hi
rapamycin-conditioned dendritic cells mediate IFN-γ-dependent apoptosis of alloreactive CD4+ T cells and
reduce graft-versus-host disease. Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation 2014; 20 (2): 192-201.
PMID: 24239650.
Published Abstracts
1. Vander Lugt M, Chen X, Windreich R, Goyal RK, Stenger E, Escolar M, Szabolcs P. Reduced intensity
conditioning regimen combined with single unit cord blood transplantation is effective and safe for children
with inherited metabolic disorders and combined immunodeficiency diseases. BMT Tandem Meeting,
Dallas TX 2014. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 2014; 20 (2): S88-S89.
C. Research Support
U54 AI082973
(PI: Cowan)
09/12/09-08/31/14
NIH/NIAID
Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium
This award supports the Primary Immune Deficiency Treatment Consortium (PIDTC) whose objectives are to
determine the outcomes following HSCT for patients with severe combined immune deficiency, Wiskott-Aldrich
syndrome, and chronic granulomatous disease.
Role: Site Principal Investigator