Christopher Ouellette, MD, a skilled clinician and physician-scientist, has been selected to receive the 2021 Hall Award for Clinically Innovative Research Paper from the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS). Offered in memory of Dr. Caroline B. Hall, the award is presented annually to a junior or mid-career investigator who is the first author or senior author of a paper that best illustrates Dr. Hall’s innovative approach to clinical research.
Dr. Ouellette’s work includes efforts to unravel the mechanisms behind cytomegalovirus infection in newborns, the leading cause of sensorineural hearing loss in childhood. His paper, published in Nature Communications in July 2020, showed the potential value of transcriptional profiling that could be used as a biomarker for diagnosis and to identify infants with congenital cytomegalovirus infections at risk for hearing loss who could benefit from early, targeted interventions.
“Dr. Ouellette’s paper demonstrates the creativity, originality and innovation exemplified by Dr. Hall’s research, and the findings have the potential to change clinical practice as it relates to congenital cytomegalovirus infection,” said PIDS President Kristina Bryant, MD, FPIDS. “PIDS is delighted to recognize Dr. Ouellette and his work with this award.”
An assistant professor of pediatrics at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, Dr. Ouellette is a member of Infectious Diseases and Host Defense Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. As a clinician, his focus is the treatment and prevention of infections in immunocompromised children. His research explores new ways to treat challenging viral infections in children.
He received his medical degree from Ohio State University College of Medicine, followed by pediatric residency and fellowship training in pediatric infectious diseases and transplant infectious diseases at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.
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About PIDS
PIDS membership encompasses leaders across the global scientific and public health spectrum, including clinical care, advocacy, academics, government, and the pharmaceutical industry. From fellowship training to continuing medical education, research, regulatory issues and guideline development, PIDS members are the core professionals advocating for the improved health of children with infectious diseases both nationally and around the world, participating in critical public health and medical professional advisory committees that determine the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, immunization practices in children, and the education of pediatricians. For more information, visit http://www.pids.org.
Improving the health of children worldwide through philanthropic support of scientific and educational programs.
