Pitt Pediatrics congratulates Glenn Rapsinski, MD, PhD, for recently earning a K08 award from the NIH for his ongoing work in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen that can cause infection in patients requiring ventilators. Rapsinski is an Assistant Professor in our Division of Infectious Diseases and was part of our Pediatric Scientist Development Program. 
Rapsinski’s project focusing on Pseudomonas aeruginosa plans to address the lingering issue of ventilator-associated infections which in addition to causing significant healthcare costs, are also associated with high mortality rates. In pediatrics, P. aeruginosa may be more prevalent among children who have lifelong ventilators used at home. Rapsinski’s study has collected hundreds of P. aeruginosa isolates to determine what makes them capable of causing infection and how the bacteria may genetically change during these infections.
Rapsinski’s team will also use a lab-based model to study how the nutritional environment in the patient changes the bacterial evolutionary trajectory. In addition to that, they will also study the immune responses and gene expression occurring during infection and as a result of having a breathing tube in place for the ventilator.
Rapsinski’s prior research examined the development of and immune responses to extracellular components of biofilms formed by Salmonella typhimurium. Following his PhD, he completed residency at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh with a fellowship in Infectious Diseases. His primary research interest is bacterial respiratory tract infections including the studying the microbiome present in the sinuses and lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis and adaptations providing Pseudomonas aeruginosa competitive advantage against other bacteria in the microbiome. He is completing his fellowship research in the lab of Dr. Jennifer Bomberger. His career goal is to be a physician scientist with an R01 funded research program and lab after completing fellowship.
Join us in congratulating Dr. Rapsinski on this fantastic early career accomplishment. And follow Pitt Pediatrics on Bluesky for future updates on faculty awards, recognitions, and research grants.