Iron Transport, Storage, and Chelation in Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)
The NEC Society and the American Pediatric Surgical Association (APSA) are honored to present Christopher Luschen, MD, with the Pediatric Surgery Research Fellow Award
Dr. Luschen is a Pediatric Surgery Research Fellow at the University of Oklahoma. His clinical experience caring for premature infants with NEC as a medical student, resident, and now research fellow has highlighted the urgent need to better understand the mechanisms that drive intestinal injury in this disease. The NEC Society is honored to provide support for his project titled, Iron Transport, Storage, and Chelation in Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC).
NEC Society Scientific Advisor and incoming APSA President, Dr. Gail Besner, presented the award at the APSA annual meeting in Chicago alongside APSA’s current President, Dr. Andrea Hayes-Dixon.
Through the support of this award, Dr. Luschen will analyze how alterations in iron transport, storage, and chelation regulate intracellular iron accumulation and ferroptotic cell death in necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).
Despite scientific advances in neonatal care, NEC remains one of the leading causes of death for premature infants, and right now, there is no way to prevent or cure this devastating disease. Babies that survive NEC often face lifelong neurological and nutritional challenges.Â
Identification of molecular pathways could provide opportunities for early detection of NEC and targeted therapeutic intervention.
At the NEC Society, we are committed to fostering the next generation of researchers and clinicians who are determined to build a world without NEC. Dr. Luschen exemplifies this mission through his expertise, scientific curiosity, and dedication to this field.
We are grateful for Dr. Luschen’s dedication to improving outcomes for babies and families affected by NEC.
