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Anca M. Pasca, MD

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am a physician-scientist, neonatologist, and stem cell biologist whose research focuses on understanding mechanisms of human brain development, neuroinflammation, and neurological injury using patient-derived stem cell models.
I was among the early pioneers of three-dimensional human cortical organoid technologies and contributed to development of foundational protocols for generating region-specific human brain organoids from pluripotent stem cells. My work helped establish the feasibility of modeling human brain development and disease using stem cell-derived tissues and has contributed to the widespread adoption of organoid technologies across neuroscience, regenerative medicine, and translational research.
A major focus of my laboratory is the development of increasingly sophisticated multicellular organoid and assembloid systems that incorporate diverse neuronal and glial populations to model complex human brain circuitry and disease processes. We integrate stem cell biology, organoid engineering, CRISPR-based genome editing, single-cell transcriptomics, epigenomics, high-content imaging, and computational approaches to identify disease mechanisms and therapeutic targets. These technologies have been applied to studies of hypoxic brain injury, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), Trisomy 18, narcolepsy, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's Disease.

Deborah Hsu, MD, MEd

Professor of Emergency Medicine (Pediatrics) and, by courtesy, of Pediatrics (Hospital Medicine)

Current Research and Scholarly InterestsCompetency-based medical education; assessment; curriculum development; professional development

Projects:
American Board of Pediatrics EPAs Common to All Subspecialties and Subspecialty Specific EPAs. July 2026. Access at https://www.abp.org/sites/public/files/pdf/epas-subspecialties-full-list.pdf. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Entrustable Professional Activities Revisions - Work Group leader. 2025-2026.

American Board of Pediatrics EPA to Milestone Navigator Pediatric Emergency Medicine Work Group leader. Mapping pediatric emergency medicine milestones 2.0 to pediatric emergency medicine and common pediatric subspecialty entrustable professional activities. March 2024. Access at https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/americanboardofpediatrics/viz/EPAtoMilestoneCrosswalk/PrimaryDashboard?publish=yes

Pediatric Emergency Medicine Milestones Work Group member. Pediatric Emergency Medicine Milestones. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. April 2022. Access at https://www.acgme.org/globalassets/pdfs/milestones/pediatricemergencymedicinemilestones.pdf

Pediatric Emergency Medicine Milestones Work Group member. Supplemental Guide: Pediatric Emergency Medicine. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. April 2022. Access at https://www.acgme.org/globalassets/pdfs/milestones/pediatricemergencymedicinesupplementalguide.pdf

Milestones 2.0 - Pediatric Emergency Medicine Webcast. ACGME Digital Learning. May 2022. Access at https://www.acgme.org/specialties/pediatrics/milestones/ https://vimeo.com/705402260/17a977fe28

Joyce Hsu

Clinical Professor, Pediatrics - Rheumatology

Current Research and Scholarly InterestsPediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus;

Lupus Nephritis;

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Pediatric Lupus Patients

CARRA Registry