The SPR honors Dr. Stephanie Roberts with Bridging to Success Award

HOUSTON, March 20, 2020 – The Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) is pleased to announce Stephanie Roberts, MD, as the recipient of this year’s Bridging to Success Award. The program supports transitioning pediatric physician-scientists who have submitted a K08 or K23 grant that may be competitive on resubmission to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The award grants $40,000 to the awardee’s sponsoring institution, which the institution must then match to support the awardee for one year.

Dr. Roberts is an attending physician in the Division of Endocrinology at Boston Children’s Hospital and an instructor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. As a physician-scientist, she investigates observations from her clinical practice to investigate at the molecular level how genetic variants affect the neurobiology of puberty and reproductive disorders.

Dr. Roberts initially studied the potential regulation of Makorin Ring Finger Protein 3 (MKRN3) by leptin, and more recently generated a novel mouse model with MKRN3 overexpression in the mouse hypothalamus, demonstrating the ability of MKRN3 overexpression to delay pubertal onset in female mice. Dr. Roberts now uses this model to explain the mechanism of action of MKRN3, which remains poorly understood. This also suggests that mutations in MKRN3 may be an unrecognized cause of delayed puberty in children. This work formed the basis of her K08 application.

“The SPR is pleased to support Dr. Roberts and her competitive resubmission for her K08 application,” said SPR President Joel N. Hirschhorn, MD, PhD. “Her ongoing research efforts are helping to advance the field of child health, and improve the diagnosis and management of pubertal and reproductive disorders.”

Dr. Roberts received her MD from the University of Connecticut and completed her pediatric residency at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. She completed her pediatric endocrinology fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she gained experience in pediatric reproductive endocrine disorders and has continued there as an Attending in Endocrinology since 2016. During her fellowship, she joined Dr. Ursula Kaiser’s laboratory in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and has continued there as a junior faculty member and an Instructor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School.

For more information about Dr. Roberts and the SPR’s Bridging to Success Award, please visit the SPR website.

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About the Society for Pediatric Research

The Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) encourages and supports pediatric research endeavors by creating a network of multidisciplinary researchers to improve child health. Collaboration among SPR members creates meaningful progress for the future of children’s health. For more information, please visit www.societyforpediatricresearch.org, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

Media Contact:
Jana Wells
Senior Association Director
Society for Pediatric Research
(832) 404-2451
jwells@societyforpediatricresearch.org