Meet the 2023 Winner: Edwin Ostrin, MD, PhD

Ed Ostrin is an Assistant Professor in the Departments of General Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr Ostrin received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin and then joined the Medical Scientist Training Program at Baylor College of Medicine for medical and graduate training in genetics in the lab of Graeme Mardon. He then moved to Johns Hopkins Hospital for Internal Medicine residency, where he presented resident research at the ATS conference in 2008. Dr Ostrin moved to the University of California, San Francisco for PCCM fellowship in 2009, where he performed post-doctoral research in the lab of David Erle on airway epithelial microRNAs in asthma, where he was supported by an NHLBI F32 grant.

In 2013, Dr Ostrin joined the McCombs Institute for the Early Detection and Treatment of Cancer at MD Anderson and shifted his focus to early lung carcinogenesis and development of blood-based biomarkers for the detection of lung cancer, under the mentorship of Sam Hanash. He has had particular interests in oncometabolism in the tumor microenvironment and altered protein processing in cancer cells. He has been instrumental in the development and validation of a 4-protein blood biomarker panel for lung cancer cancer risk and for stratification of indeterminate pulmonary nodules. He has also established translational biobanking protocols in his clinical practice in the MD Anderson Suspicion of Cancer Clinic. In 2017, he joined the MD Anderson Physician Scientist program as an Assistant Professor, and has received research support from the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, the American Lung Association, and the Early Detection Research Network of the NCI.

Dr Ostrin has been a member of the Thoracic Oncology assembly since 2014. He has recently completed a 3-year term on the Program Committee and currently serves as the TO representative to the ATS Science and Innovation Center (SIC). Dr Ostrin has helped to spearhead numerous symposia and sessions for the TO assembly, including a Scientific Symposium in 2023 (Lung Cancer in Those Who Have Never Smoked) and an SIC Symposium on Linking the LungMAP with the Precancer Atlas. Dr Ostrin is enthusiastic to continue to forward the ATS and TO’s reach in promoting lung cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment.

Description:

This award will be given to an individual who has made scientific contributions in clinical, translational, or laboratory-based research relevant to the field of thoracic oncology and/or made significant contributions to the Assembly through participation in Assembly and ATS Activities (committees, workshops, document development, etc.). Other considerations for this award include demonstrating meaningful contributions in the areas(s) of clinical care, teaching, innovative program development, and promoting diversity.

Nominees must be a TOA member (primary or secondary); preference will be given to a TOA primary member. We encourage nominations of diverse nominees in all dimensions, including gender, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, geographic residence, country, area of focus and primary occupation. The nomination package must include a 1-page letter from a member of the assembly describing the candidate’s contributions (scientific and/or Assembly contributions) and why the award is merited. The candidate’s curriculum vitae must also be included with the nomination packet.

Awardees will be recognized with a framed certificate at the annual TO Membership Meeting during the ATS International Conference.

Criteria:

• Must be at the Assistant Professor level or at an equivalent rank in a non-academic institution
• Must be a TOA member with preference given to TOA primary member
• Must not have received a similar early career award from TOA or another ATS Assembly
• Limited to nominees that are ≤ 10 years from terminal doctoral degree (PhDs) or ≤ 10 years from completion of medical fellowship training (MDs or MD/PhDs).

Scoring:

Applicants are scored on two criteria using a rating system (1-5 where 5 is best) across the following categories:

• Scientific Contributions/Products
• Participation in Assembly and ATS Activities (administrative, committees, workshops, documents, promoting diversity.)
• Teaching/ Mentoring/ Educational Contributions

View Previous Award Recipients