University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Colorado StARR Program for Research in Residency Announces New Scholars

The Colorado NHLBI-supported StARR Program (Stimulating Access to Research in Residency) is pleased to announce the selection of four new scholars for the program. Congratulations to Caitlin Eason, MD, Lauren Maloney, MD, Ryen Ormesher, MD, and Bo Chang “Brian” Wu, MD.

The goal of the Colorado StARR Program – which is funded by an R38 award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at the NIH – is to recruit, train and retain outstanding clinician-investigators focused on translational research in heart, lung and blood disorders. The program supports a 1-2 year mentored research experience in heart, lung, and blood disorders for outstanding housestaff in Medicine, Pediatrics, and Surgery.

These newly awarded scholars will join the program’s current scholars embarking upon dedicated time for research during their residency training.

Incoming Scholars

Caitlin Eason, MD
Beginning July 2024
Department of Surgery
Mentor: Chris Derderian, MD
Project: Effect of miRNAs and EVs on angiogenesis. Dr. Eason will be examining the effect of miRNA within extracellular vesicles on placental angiogenesis and by extension will establish whether this contributes to impaired fetal growth.

Lauren Maloney, MD
Beginning January 2025
Department of Pediatrics
Mentor: Sarah Taylor, MD
Project: Age-specific differences in the immune response to obstructive cholestasis. Dr. Maloney will be examining if age-based differences affect the immune cell response to bile acid toxicity in obstructive cholestasis and contribute to differences in disease phenotype in the neonate.

Ryen Ormesher, MD
Beginning June 2024
Department of Medicine
Mentor: Irina Petrache, MD
Project: Biomarkers in COPD predisposing to pulmonary hypertension. Dr. Ormesher will be examining if pulmonary vascular remodeling in COPD is associated with elevations of microRNA-126’ (miR126) cell type-specific targets.

Bo Chang “Brian” Wu, MD
Beginning July 2024
Department of Surgery
Mentor: Brett Reece, MD, MBA, FACS, FAHA, FACC
Project: Protective role of mitochondrial transplantation in an in vivo murine middle cerebral artery occlusion stroke model. Dr. Wu will be examining if pretreatment with mitochondrial transplantation may strengthen the neuronal cells against ischemia-reperfusion injury.