The Pediatrics Research Council contributes to the mission of the department by providing guidance to the Vice Chair for Research, managing intramural and bridge research funding, being involved in new faculty hires, and assisting with identifying research mentors. The PRC plays an essential role in departmental affairs relating to research.

Research Council Members

Varun Aggarwal
Varun Aggarwal, MBBS, FAAP
Assistant Professor, Cardiology
Melena Bellin
Melena Bellin, MD
Associate Professor, Endocrinology
Sarah Cusick
Sarah Cusick, PhD
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology and Clinical Research
Marla Eisenberg
Marla Eisenberg, ScD, MPH
Professor, General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health
Gwenyth Fischer
Gwenyth Fischer, MD
Associate Chair of Research
Assistant Professor, Critical Care
Michael Georgieff
Michael Georgieff, MD
Professor, Neonatology
Alicia Kunin-Batson, PhD, LP
Alicia Kunin-Batson, PhD, LP
Assistant Professor, Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience
Jenny Poynter, MPH, PhD
Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Clinical Research
Sara Ramel

Sara Ramel, MD 
Associate Professor, Neonatology

Phu Tran
Phu Tran, PhD 
Associate Professor, Neonatology
Beau Webber
Beau Webber, PhD
Assistant Professor, Hematology and Oncology

Expand all

Research Council Staff

Erinn Barclay
Finance Manager
elodell@umn.edu 

Suzanne Blodgett
Finance Professional 
timmx166@umn.edu 

Joy Bremer
Finance Analyst
breme009@umn.edu

Jennifer Goldfarb
Clinical Research Program Director, Children's Health
goldf092@umn.edu 

Lori Wallin
Director, Research Support Services
l-wall@umn.edu

If you have equipment that you no longer need and would like to offer it to other labs. Please email pedsigp@umn edu with the following information: 

  • Name and Model Number of Equipment
  • Picture of Equipment
  • Location 
  • Notes of working condition, availability of manuals
Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari

Vice Chair for Research

Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari, PhD

Dr. Angela Panoskaltsis-Mortari is Professor and Vice Chair-Research in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplantation, and Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep at the University of Minnesota. Her goal is to realize the potential of regenerative medicine by converging the fields of stem cell biology, mechanical & biomedical engineering, biomaterials, physiology and surgery to bioengineer autologous tissues/organs for transplant.

Questions, comments or concerns with research administration, strategy, or anything else research related? Contact Matthew Stoffel at stof0040@umn.edu.