Collaborative Award Recipients
European Young Investigator Exchange Program
In Collaboration with the European Society for Paediatric Research
The European Young Investigator Exchange Program invites one European Society for Paediatric (ESPR) young investigator to present their research at the annual Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) Meeting, where they are awarded for their achievements and given the opportunity to share their research with academic pediatric leaders.
In exchange, SPR selects one of its Fellows Research Award recipients to attend the annual ESPR meeting.
Current Recipient
Vincent D. Gaertner, M.D., B.Sc., is a postdoctoral researcher in the neonatal division at the Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital in Munich, Germany. He graduated summa cum laude in medicine from the University of Regensburg, Germany, and in psychology from the University of Mannheim, Germany. His research led him to work at the Neonatal Departments of the University Hospital Zurich in Switzerland, and the Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia.
Vincent Gaertner, MD, BSc
ILMU Hospital Munich
JPS Fellow Exchange Program
In Collaboration with the Japan Pediatric Society
The JPS Fellow Exchange Program invites three Japan Pediatric Society (JPS) young investigators to present their research at the annual PAS Meeting, where they are awarded for their achievements and given the opportunity to share their research with academic pediatric leaders.
In exchange, JPS hosts SPR Emerging to Established (E2E) Section members at the JPS Annual Meeting.
Current Recipients
I am an Assistant Professor at Tottori University specializing in Child Neurology, with a focus on improving the quality of life for children with epilepsy and their families. I have previously developed a long-term prognostic model for Infantile Epileptic Spasms Syndrome, identified prognostic factors related to employment outcomes in childhood-onset drug-resistant epilepsy, and conducted studies on the subjective well-being of parents of children with disabilities.
This study is the first to demonstrate that climate change serves as a seizure trigger in children with drug-resistant epilepsy. These findings are expected to enhance the understanding of seizure triggers among patients’ families and healthcare providers, thereby contributing to improvements in epilepsy management.
This recognition underscores my commitment to advancing pediatric neurology and supporting families affected by epilepsy.
Yuto Arai, MD, PhD
Division of Child Neurology, Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University
Ryo Nishiguchi is a neonatologist at NHO Nagasaki Medical Center in Japan. At the hospital, he is involved in daily neonatal care in the NICU and developmental care in the outpatient setting. His practice and research also focus on the long-term prognosis, including disease and development, of preterm and low-birth-weight infants.
He received his medical degree from Nagasaki University School of Medicine. He trained in neonatal medicine at the NICU of Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, one of the largest in Japan. He currently works as a neonatologist in his hometown of Nagasaki, where he lives with his wife and two sons.
Ryo Nishiguchi, MD
NHO Nagasaki Medical Center
Over the past decades, our research team at the Department of Pediatrics, Fukushima Medical University has conducted a longitudinal study analyzing amino acid (AA) mutations in the fusion (F) protein of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and their effects on monoclonal antibody (mAb) sensitivity and viral replicative capacity. We analyzed 236 RSV strains isolated from children hospitalized with RSV infections between 2008 and 2023 in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Our team identified significant AA mutations in key neutralizing epitopes (sites II, V, and Ø) of the F protein. For instance, we discovered that mutations in site V and Ø influenced antibody sensitivity, without decreasing replicative capacity. Using neutralization assays and replication studies, we demonstrated that RSV in Japan naturally evolved with AA mutations that affect sensitivity to specific antibodies. Our findings highlight the importance of continuous monitoring of AA mutations to better understand their implications for antibody-based treatments and vaccine strategies. This award acknowledges the collective efforts and contributions of our team in advancing the understanding of RSV evolution, antibody resistance, and the clinical implications of these findings, with the hope of contributing to improved outcomes for pediatric patients worldwide.
Hisao Okabe, MD
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University