Igor Matushansky, MD, PhD

Monica Bhatia, MD specializes in the care of children with noncancerous blood disorders who may benefit from bone marrow transplantation, especially sickle cell anemia. She and her colleagues are working to reduce the toxicity (side effects) and complications of this treatment without compromising its effectiveness, and to make it available to more patients. The field of pediatric hematology brings with it many intellectual challenges, and bone marrow transplantation in particular is especially dynamic. Dr. Bhatia has the opportunity to provide care for the sickest children, potentially curing their disease. She builds strong relationships with her patients and their families that last for years. It is inspiring for her to see young patients grow up to lead healthy, productive lives. NewYork-Presbyterian/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital has a robust program for bone marrow transplantation for sickle cell anemia - the only cure for this disease. Dr. Bhatia and her team have witnessed remarkable results among children who are cured with bone marrow transplantation and spared from the potentially life-threatening complications of sickle cell disease. Yet despite the advances made, only 15 percent of patients with sickle cell disease have a matched sibling bone marrow donor. Therefore, Dr. Bhatia and her team conduct research to evaluate a procedure called "CD34-selected stem cell transplantation" to remove T-cells from donor bone marrow for patients without a matched sibling donor. This approach reduces the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a potential complication of bone marrow transplantation in which T-cells from the donor attack the tissue of the recipient. This approach to harnessing stem cells could potentially make bone marrow transplantation a safer, effective option for many patients who are seeking a cure for sickle cell disease. Dr. Bhatia and her colleagues are currently assessing reduced-intensity transplantation, which uses lower doses of chemotherapy to decrease the risk of side effects and long-term complications without lowering the effectiveness of treatment. She is also interested in looking for ways to further improve the quality of life of patients who have had a bone marrow transplant in addition to fertility preservation.

Jason B. Carmel, MD, PhD, is a child neurologist and motor system neuroscientist dedicated to improving movement and function in individuals with central nervous system injuries. He specializes in treating children, adolescents, and adults with conditions such as cerebral palsy at the Movement Recovery Clinic and evaluates infants with delayed motor milestones in the Infant Movement Evaluation Clinic. Dr. Carmel works closely with patients and their families to develop personalized treatment plans that align with their goals for mobility, independence, and participation in daily life. Dr. Carmel is Chief of the Division of Child Neurology and Executive Director of the Weinberg Family Cerebral Palsy Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Additionally, Dr. Carmel directs the Movement Recovery Laboratory, where he leads groundbreaking research on activity-based therapies that harness the body’s own capacity for recovery. His work explores innovative approaches, including brain and spinal cord stimulation and intensive behavioral training, to strengthen neural connections and restore movement. His research has demonstrated that stimulating intact pathways after injury can enhance their function, promote new connections, and improve motor skills. Dr. Carmel is committed to bridging the gap between research and clinical care. By translating discoveries from the lab into more effective therapies, he is shaping the future of treatment for patients with cerebral palsy and other movement disorders, across their lifespan. His ultimate goal as a physician-scientist is to develop and refine therapies that help individuals regain mobility, confidence, and quality of life. A leader in neurorehabilitation, Dr. Carmel is a standing NIH study section member, program chair of the American Society for Neurorehabilitation, and a steering committee member of the Cerebral Palsy Research Network. He also serves as a scientific and medical advisor to companies advancing neuromodulation technologies. His work is supported by the National Institutes of Health and private foundations.

Dr. Naikhoba Munabi graduated from Stanford University with a BA in Human Biology. She then obtained her MD at Columbia University's Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons where she was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. After medical school, Dr. Munabi completed her integrated plastic and reconstructive surgery residency training at the University of Southern California (USC). She went on to complete a fellowship in craniomaxillofacial and pediatric plastic surgery at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, one of the largest craniofacial surgery programs in the country. In addition to learning advanced surgical techniques across 9 different clinical sites in Los Angeles, Dr. Munabi spent an additional two years during residency earning a MPH from USC and working as a Global Surgery Fellow with Operation Smile. During that two-year period, she initiated programs to improve surgical education and conducted research on surgical capacity building and health systems strengthening in sub-Saharan Africa. She helped develop a landmark Women in Medicine surgical program for the non-profit, which was featured in an editorial by Forbes. Dr. Munabi is the author of over 40 peer-reviewed publications and has presented her research at numerous national and international plastic surgery conferences. She was awarded the Peter J. Gingrass Memorial Award for the best research presentation by a trainee at the Plastic Surgery Research Council and the Warren L. Garner, MD Resident Research Award for excellence in research and scholarly activity from USC. Dr. Munabi is well trained in the full breadth of plastic and reconstructive surgery, with a particular interest in cleft lip, cleft palate, craniosynostosis, hypertelorism, frontal facial advancement, orthognathic surgery, rhinoplasty, and MEDPOR ear reconstruction for microtia. She also specializes in adult aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the head and neck. Her current research interests include cleft and craniofacial surgical outcomes, improving disparities in access to craniofacial surgery, and global surgical education and capacity building.