Jacqueline Ho, MD, MSc, Appointed Liaison to Pediatric Scientist Development Program
April 21, 2022
Jacqueline Ho, MD, MSc, associate professor in the Division of Pediatric Nephrology at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh was appointed as a Pediatric Scientist Development Program (PSDP) liaison for the Association of Pediatric Program Directors (APPD).
A PSDP graduate now mentoring PSDP participants as director of the Pediatric Nephrology Fellowship at UPMC Children's, Dr. Ho will advocate for specialty training and research opportunities for entry-level faculty interested in research careers. Ninety-two percent of PSDP graduates work in academic pediatrics, and as of 2021, 52% of PSDP graduates had obtained NIH funding.
More About Dr. Ho
Dr. Ho’s research laboratory is primarily focused on understanding the role of microRNAs in kidney development and disease. Her laboratory has previously shown that microRNAs are involved in regulating the proliferation and survival of nephron progenitors in the developing kidney, which has important implications for congenital nephron endowment and subsequent kidney health in children and adults.
Recent published research from Dr. Ho includes a study in Scientific Reports that profiled gene expression during kidney development using single-cell RNA sequencing, the results of which will help to better understand potential molecular targets for reparative or regenerative strategies to mitigate kidney disease, and a forthcoming review paper in JCI Insights on microRNAs in kidney development and disease.
