Pitt Pediatrics congratulates Erick Forno, MD, MPH, associate professor in the Division of Pulmonology and director of the Pediatric Asthma Center, on his receipt of the 2021 Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children's Health Research Award.
Announced today by Weill Cornell Medicine, the Drukier Prize honors an early-career pediatrician whose resesarch has made important contributions toward improving health of children and adolescents. Forno was recognized for two specific research innovations: discovery of genomic markers linked to severe pediatric asthma; and identfication of a mismatch between lung volume and airway size in children with asthma and obesity. Both discoveries have strong potential to lead to new treatment approaches and diagnostic tests for children.
“Dr. Forno is a distinguished physician-scientist whose dedication to pediatric research and care exemplifies why the Drukiers established this award, and we are grateful to them for their continued support,” said Dr. Augustine M.K. Choi, the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine. “His research into the mechanisms of childhood asthma and the association between obesity and the disease offers hope to children and their families for improved diagnoses and treatment opportunities in the future. We are delighted to recognize Dr. Forno with this year’s Gale and Ira Drukier Prize in Children’s Health Research.”
“We are thrilled to be honoring Dr. Forno with this award,” said Dr. Gale Drukier and Weill Cornell Medicine Fellow Dr. Ira Drukier, who together established the prize in 2014. “Dr. Forno’s commitment to improving the lives of children and adolescents with asthma is inspiring. We are proud to have the opportunity to showcase exceptional physicians and scientists, like Dr. Forno, who are making significant advancements in children’s health and illuminating the path for a brighter tomorrow.”
Read more about the Drukier Prize and Forno's accomplishments from Weill Cornell Medicine.