The AGA Research Foundation plays an important role in medical research by providing grants to young scientists at a critical time in their careers. In the 2016 research award cycle, the foundation provided more than $2.5 million in research award support to 66 scientists. We funded four Research Scholar Award (RSA) recipients; outside of the RSAs, the foundation provided several other funding vehicles for individuals ranging from high school students to established investigators.
With the support of our donors, we are building a community of researchers whose work serves the greater community and benefits all our patients. Here are just a few of the investigators the AGA Research Foundation is funding.
Dr. Kyle Staller
Massachusetts General Hospital
2016 AGA Research Scholar Award Recipient
“I would like to thank the AGA Research Foundation and its donors for their generous support. This award is a critical step in allowing me to develop an infrastructure to support future research examining additional lifestyle risk factors for IBS.” – He will use this research funding to evaluate the association of early-life risk factors and risk of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in prospective multicenter cohorts.
Dr. Ting-Chin D. Shen
University of Pennsylvania
2016 AGA Microbiome Junior Investigator Research Award
“I am extremely honored to have received this award. This grant is instrumental in my career development as a physician-scientist working in the gut microbiome field. The opportunities and resources this award affords will gear me toward achieving my research goals.” – His research project aims to investigate the role of bacterial urease, which hydrolyzes host-derived urea into ammonia in the colon, in host and gut microbiota amino acid metabolism.
Elizabeth Edouard
Mt. Saint Mary’s University
2016 AGA Investing in the Future Student Research Fellowship
“I would like to thank the AGA Research Foundation for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to conduct valuable research under the mantles of so many well-known scientists in the GI field. This award motivates me to continue to strive for excellence in my professional pursuits.” – Elizabeth notes receiving this grant will enable more students from her university to embark on research activities.
Support talented investigators in gastroenterology and hepatology like Drs. Kyle Staller and Ting-Chin Shen, and student Elizabeth Edouard through the AGA Research Foundation. Make a tax-deductible donation today at www.gastro.org/donateonline.
