Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our academic community.

Emory University is seeking a Basic Scientist to serve as Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Distinguished Investigator for Sickle Cell Disease as part of the Georgia Solve Sickle Cell Initiative. The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (Children’s), Emory University School of Medicine (Emory) and Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) are partnering in a $16M expansion of its Sickle Cell Disease Program, supported by an award from the Georgia Research Alliance, and investments from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, and Morehouse School of Medicine. The Georgia Solve Sickle Cell Initiative will focus on the development, testing, and implementation of new therapies in sickle cell disease. The Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and the Emory University Department of Pediatrics invites qualified applicants to apply for one of two GRA Distinguished Investigator roles in this initiative as Basic Scientist, Sickle Cell Disease Program.

This position includes adjunct appointment at Morehouse School of Medicine and offers a wealth of opportunities for research collaborations within the Department of Pediatrics, Winship Cancer Institute, and Grady Hospital as well as with Emory basic science departments, the Rollins School of Public Health, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Successful candidates will have:

·       MD, MD/PhD, or PhD.

·       Emerging national reputation in an area of science or technology with relevance to sickle cell disease research.

·       History of productivity and academic excellence commensurate with rank.  

·       Strong potential for development as an independent investigator and willingness to work in a collaborative fashion to expand and strengthen current collaborations with investigators from other divisions and departments at Emory, Georgia Tech, Georgia State and the Morehouse School of Medicine.

·       Dedication to mentorship of trainees to support growth in research and scholarship.

·       The qualifications necessary for designation as a Georgia Research Alliance Distinguished Investigator, supported by a dedicated $1M research endowment and appointment at Emory University and Morehouse School of Medicine.

Salary and rank of Assistant/Associate Professor will be commensurate with experience and accomplishment.

The Georgia Solve Sickle Cell Initiative was launched in 2021 as a collaborative involving Children’s, GRA, Emory and Morehouse School of Medicine. Building on research and clinical strengths in Georgia, the initiative adds mindpower, lab infrastructure and expanded treatment facilities. The initiative includes the recruitment of some of the brightest minds in sickle cell disease research: the Calvin Smyre GRA Eminent Scholar, the Teresa White Director of Clinical Programs, and two GRA Distinguished Investigators, one with a primary appointment at Emory and the other with a primary appointment at Morehouse School of Medicine.

The Emory Basic Scientist/GRA Distinguished Investigator will join one of the strongest pediatric hematology/oncology programs in the country. With 125 faculty and approximately 50 Advanced Practice Providers (APPs), the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center conducts basic, translational, and clinical research in gene therapy, focusing on CAR T-cell therapies, hemoglobinopathies, and hemophilia. In 2023, we were ranked No. 8 in the nation by US News and World Report for Pediatric Cancers, and our faculty generated over $30M in extramural funding including nearly $11M from the NIH.

As part of the largest pediatric hematology program in the country, the Sickle Cell Disease Program at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center is the largest comprehensive pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) program in the U.S., providing comprehensive multi-disciplinary outpatient, emergency, and inpatient services for more than 2,000 children and adolescents at three locations in metropolitan Atlanta. We are a leader in curative therapies for SCD. In close partnership with our BMT and Gene Therapy Programs, we have cured more than 144 children with stem cell transplants and enrolled 9 on national gene therapy trials for SCD. Our program maintains a clinical database that contains SCD genotype, treatment, and clinical care utilization data on patients with SCD seen since 2010, providing a valuable resource for program management, quality improvement and health services and outcomes research. We are also the leader of the Atlanta Sickle Cell Disease Consortium—a citywide collaboration of physicians and researchers from Emory, Morehouse School of Medicine, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Georgia State University, advancing the treatment of sickle cell disease and developing curative therapies. Collectively, investigators in Atlanta have over $5.4M in annual funding for sickle cell disease research from federal agencies, pharma and private foundations.

For Consideration

Applicants interested in this position should submit an application using the following link: https://faculty-emory.icims.com/jobs/125007/basic-scientist%2C-sickle-cell-disease-program/job

Questions can be directed to Shannon Meeks, MD, MBA Section Chief of Hematology for the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center: smeeks@emory.edu.  

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