UNMC_Acronym_Vert_sm_4c
University of Nebraska Medical Center

Sidharth Mahapatra, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, UNMC Department of Pediatrics
Associate Professor, UNMC Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Chair, Nebraska Children’s Brain Tumor Collaborative
Co-Director, Pediatric Cancer Research Group

Sidharth Mahapatra, MD, PhD

As a pediatric intensivist with an interest in neurocritical care working in a state with a particularly high incidence of pediatric brain tumors (7th in the nation), I am carving my academic niche studying pediatric medulloblastomas (MB), the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood. Serving as an intersection for my training in molecular neurobiology, my strong interest in translational science, and my burgeoning expertise in pediatric critical care medicine, I hope to significantly impact the long-term survivorship of patients with high-risk medulloblastomas, who suffer high relapse rates and mortality.

My secondary clinical interest lies in the study of acute lung injury and pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS). I am an active member of the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury & Sepsis Investigators (PALISI). We have participated in several landmark studies including the Pediatric Acute Respiratory Distress Incidence and Epidemiology (PARDIE) and are now engaged in the Prone and Oscillator in Pediatrics Clinical Trial (PROSpect) aimed at studying treatment strategies in severe PARDS. Over my career, I aspire to mitigate PARDS in the field of critical care.

About Dr. Mahapatra

Education

Medical School/PhD Program
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Sciences, North Chicago, IL


Residency
Pediatrics, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford, CA


Fellowship
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford, CA

Research Interests
  • To uncover deregulated molecular pathways triggering aggressiveness that can be targeted therapeutically in pediatric medulloblastomas
  • To develop novel treatment strategies that target these pathways to mitigate long-term morbidity/mortality and reduce recurrence in pediatric medulloblastomas

Lab page

Board Certification
  • Pediatrics
  • Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Additional Academic Roles
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Creighton University School of Medicine 
  • Assistant Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University School of Medicine
Active Grants
  1. Title: Silencing B7-H3 Mitigates Tumor Aggressiveness in Group 3 Medulloblastoma Funding agency: NIH/NCI (1R03CA297351-01)
    Start and end dates: 01/01/2025 – 12/31/2026
  2. Title: Deep Investigation of Gene Silencing on 17p13.3 Identifies Targetable Vulnerabilities Informing Novel Therapeutic Strategies for Pediatric Medulloblastomas
    Funding agency: Team Jack Foundation
    Start and end dates: 05/01/2023 – 04/30/2026
  3. Project Title: Developing a Regional Medulloblastoma Core Facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
    Funding agency: Team Jack Foundation  
    Start and end dates: 04/01/2022 – 03/31/2025
  4. Project Title: Developing a Regional Medulloblastoma Core Facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
    Funding agency: Pediatric Cancer Research Group  
    Start and end dates: 01/01/2022 – 12/31/2025
  5. Project Title: Using Connectivity Mapping to Identify Anti-Neoplastic Agents for High-risk Medulloblastoma
    Funding agency: Team Jack Foundation 
    Start and end dates: 07/01/2021 – 06/30/2024 (NCE)

 

Professional Organizations
  • Sigma Xi (1999-present)
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (2009-present)
    • Fellow (2015-present)
    • Section on Critical Care (2016-present)
    • NE Chapter Executive Board (2019-2021)
  • Society for Critical Care Medicine (2012-present)
  • American Federation for Medical Research (2015-present)
    • Western Section Councilor (2015-2017)
    • Midwest Section Chair (2021-2022)
    • National AFMR Chair (2023-2024)
  • Society for Pediatric Research, (2016-present)
  • Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators Site Director (2016-present)
  • American Academy of Cancer Research (2017-present)
  • Society for Neuro-Oncology (2018-present)
Honors & Awards
  • Alpha Omega Alpha (2008)
  • Gold Humanism Honors Society (2009)
  • Leonard P. Tow Humanism in Medicine (2009)
  • Dean’s Service Award, Chicago Medical School (2009)
  • Board of Trustees Scholarship Award, Chicago Medical School (2009)
  • Excellence in Teaching, Arnold P. Gold Foundation (2012)
  • Inpatient Fellow of the Year, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (2015)
  • Travel Award, Western Society for Clinical Investigation (2015)
  • Young Investigator Coaching Program, Society for Pediatric Research (2017)
  • Top 10 Abstract, American Academy of Pediatrics Society for Critical Care (2017)
  • UNeMED New Innovation Contributor, UNMC (2018, 2022)
  • Travel Award, Team Jack Brain Tumor Foundation (2020)
  • NIH/NICHD K12 Recipient (2021)
  • K Award, Midwest Clinical and Translational Research Meeting (2021)
  • NIH/NCI Loan Repayment Award (2022)
  • Oral Abstract Award at the Midwest Clinical and Translational Research Meeting (2023)
  • Hobart E. Wiltse, MD, PhD Excellence in Medical Education Award (2023)
  • Helping Hands Award for Patient Care Excellence (2024)