Dennis Ko, MD, PhD, associate professor in molecular genetics and microbiology, was among five School of Medicine faculty to be elected into the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI), one of the oldest and most esteemed nonprofit honor societies of physician-scientists.
Ko’s research investigates genetic differences that impact disease severity in humans. Using hundreds of genotyped cell lines from different people, the Ko lab measures inter-individual variation in host-pathogen traits and identifies associated genetic differences with a cellular genome-wide association study approach. His research is helping to reveal why some individuals are resistant to different infections while others get severely, even fatally, ill.
ASCI was founded in 1908. Membership is by election only, and only researchers 50 years of age and younger are eligible for nomination. Therefore, membership in the ASCI is a recognition of a researcher’s significant contributions, at a relatively young age, to the understanding of human disease. The Society has over 3,000 members, many of whom are leaders in academic medicine and industry.
New members will be officially inducted into the Society at the ASCI Dinner and New Member Induction Ceremony on April 21 in Chicago.