2021 Russell Ross Memorial Lectureship in Vascular Biology Lecturer – Denisa D. Wagner, PhD, FAHA

Dr. Denisa Wagner is the Edwin Cohn Professor of Pediatrics in the Program for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Boston Children's Hospital. Dr. Wagner received her PhD in Biology from MIT and is a cell biologist by training. Dr. Wagner’s laboratory’s research has focused on adhesion molecules in the vascular system, the regulation of their expression, and their function in normal physiology and in pathological situations. One of their main interests is the interplay of inflammation and thrombosis, in particular, the role of platelets and neutrophils. Recently, they have explored the pathological impact of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)—decondensed chromatin coated with neutrophilic proteins—that are released from nuclei of the activated neutrophils. She is a recipient of many awards including the Outstanding Investigator Award from the NIH, the Robert P. Grant Medal, the highest honor from the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, the American Heart Association Distinguished Scientist Award and this year, the Henry M. Stratton medal from the American Society of Hematology. Dr. Wagner hopes to continue to work in the field of thrombo-inflammation in the future.