J. Michael Collaco, MD, Pulmonary Faculty
 J. Michael Collaco is a native Ohioan. He is a pediatric pulmonary postdoctoral fellow at the Johns Hopkins Childrens Center and did his pediatric residency at Johns Hopkins as well. His research interests focus on gene-environment interactions contributing to the variation in lung disease in individuals with cystic fibrosis. He recently was awarded the Francis F. Schwentker Award for Excellence in Research and will be joining the faculty at Johns Hopkins in July 2008.
Patrick Sosnay, MD, Pulmonary Faculty
Dr. Patrick Ryan Sosnay is the lone “big person doc” in the Cutting lab. He is an adult pulmonologist specializing in care of adult patients with Cystic Fibrosis. He will be joining faculty in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, with a joint appointment in the Institute of Genetic Medicine in July 2008 after completing a residency and fellowship here at Johns Hopkins.
Dr. Sosnay works in the lab looking at the cell biology of uncommon CFTR mutations and trying not to break expensive things. He was trained by former Cutting lab members Jessica LaRusch, Kristina Krasnov, and Molly Sheridan, all of which will deny any role in Dr, Sosnay’s development (or lack thereof). He is currently beginning a project supported by the CFF with Dr. Cutting creating a database of rare CFTR mutations, to be entitled CFTR2. This database will combine a detailed analysis of the clinical phenotype, predicted effects of the mutation, and results of mutation expression testing associated with rare CFTR genotypes. The goal of this project is to determine whether a given rare CFTR mutation causes CF, and if so how severe.
Personally, Dr. Sosnay hails from the northern Midwest paradise of Wisconsin. He does not, in fact, own a replica wedge of cheese to wear as a hat, but remains a loyal Packer and Badger fan. He brings a diverse work experience to the lab. He was once a golf caddy, ditch digger, garbage man, lederhosen clad bartender, and one of the four highest Medicare billers in the state of Maryland. He identifies himself with the character “Slim Charles” from The Wire. Dr. Sosnay once participated in a bachelor auction, and was the lowest winning bid of all the potential dates. In his spare time he enjoys running, basketball, golf, reading, and travel.
Scott Blackman, MD, PhD, Pediatric Endocrinologist
Dr. Scott M. Blackman completed his undergraduate studies at Princeton University and received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency in Pediatrics and fellowship in Pediatric Endocrinology at Johns Hopkins. He has been a faculty member in Pediatric Endocrinology since 2007.
Dr. Blackman’s research interests include identifying gene variants and related environmental factors responsible for good or bad outcomes in cystic fibrosis. Particular interests include diabetes and nutrition, growth and weight gain, and puberty. Long term research goals include understanding molecular mechanisms underlying diabetes both in cystic fibrosis and in the general population.
Dr. Blackman cares for infants and children with all types of endocrinologic disorders, including diabetes mellitus, disorders of growth, puberty, and the thyroid and pituitary glands. He has a special interest in typical forms of diabetes, including diabetes associated with cystic fibrosis.
Bridget Stuart, MD, PhD, Pulmonary Fellow
Dr. Bridget Stuart joined the Cutting crew as a pediatric pulmonary fellow in 2009. After completing her doctorate in Genetics and Development at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, she chose a career in pediatrics to have closer interaction with families affected by diseases under investigation in the lab. Her medical training continued at UTSW and ultimately brought her to Baltimore to complete pediatric residency training at Johns Hopkins. Using the unique data set and biologic materials provided by participants in the CF Twin and Sibling Study, Dr. Stuart hopes to identify new genes that play a role in determining lung function in CF. Specifically, she is investigating epigenetic changes to the DNA structure that may affect gene expression, possibly contributing to improved outcomes in patients. From bench to bedside and (hopefully) back again, Dr. Stuart aspires to make new discoveries that may ultimately help the patients she cares for on a daily basis.
When not in the lab or on the wards, Bridget runs….after her two beautiful children or before sunrise while they sleep. She also enjoys vegetable gardening, baking, volunteering at a shelter for homeless women and children, and rooting her favorite baseball team, the Texas Rangers!
Gia Bradley, MD, Pediatric GI and Nutrition Fellow
Dr. Gia Bradley was born and raised in Philadelphia and received her undergraduate degree from The Pennsylvania State University. She completed medical school at Temple University, and then she moved to Maryland to pursue Pediatric residency at Johns Hopkins. She has remained at Johns Hopkins to undergo a fellowship in Pediatric GI and Nutrition. Her research interests center on cystic fibrosis, and she is using the CF Twin and Sibling Study to investigate the contributions of genes and environment to nutritional variation within the disease. Outside of work, Dr. Bradley keeps very busy running after her infant son and cheering on her beloved Philadelphia sports teams!
Neeraj Sharma, DVM, PhD
 Neeraj Sharma is a post doctoral fellow at the Cutting laboratory. He did his PhD from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India. He has identified and characterized spectrum of mutations in CFTR gene of Indian CF patients. He has also studied the molecular basis of Indian Childhood Cirrhosis and Wilson disease. In the year 2007, he has been awarded young investigator award by Indian Association of Clinical Biochemists for his work on Cystic Fibrosis and has also been awarded for his work in Indian Childhood Cirrhosis (2006). He is a University Gold Medalist in DVM course (2002). He joined the Cutting laboratory to gain new insights into cystic fibrosis: molecular switches that regulate the trafficking of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and to test the phenotypic effects of CFTR mutations in cell culture system.
Jeenah Park, BS, M.Ed.
Jeenah Park is a second year Human Genetics graduate student at Johns Hopkins. She received her bachelor’s degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology and her master’s degree in Education at UCLA. Upon graduation, she worked as a high school biology teacher in low-performing, high-poverty urban schools for two years. She transformed her classroom into a space of empowerment where students developed a sense of responsibility and ownership for their success. While she enjoyed teaching high school science, she chose to pursue a PhD because she wants to continue her education and she is committed to research.
In the Cutting lab, Jeenah is interested in understanding how modifier genes affect lung function. She spends (too) many hours performing Western blots, and she hopes to develop a new, sensitive technique that rapidly detects protein expression level without using antibodies. Besides research, she enjoys baking, learning how to ballroom dance, and volunteering with the Incentive Mentoring Program.
Kyle Kaniecki, BS, Senior Research Specialist
Kyle Kaniecki joined the Cutting lab in October of 2009, and has become the laboratory supervisor and senior research specialist. Kyle was raised in rural Wisconsin and received his Bachelor’s in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Upon graduation, Kyle joined a pharmaceutical research and development team working to create novel forensic genetic identity technology designed for the diverse population and international requirements of the European Union.
Kyle is now employing his knowledge of genetic analysis in the Cutting lab. With funding from the CFF, he is designing a new high-throughput, pan-ethnic Cystic Fibrosis screening assay to work in tandem with the CFTR2 project and CF centers across the globe. He is concurrently enrolled in the joint M.S. in Biotechnology/MBA program, concentrating in drug discovery and molecular targets, at the Johns Hopkins University.
The time Kyle does not devote to his research or studies he enjoys spending on his hobbies of traveling, reading and cinematography.
Karen Siklosi, MGC, Certified Genetic Counselor
Karen is the newest member of the Cutting lab and works on a variety of projects related to cystic fibrosis. She received her BS in Biology from Denison University and her Masters in Genetic Counseling from the University of Maryland Baltimore. Following graduation, Karen was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship and moved to Dublin, Ireland, where she conducted a study investigating the knowledge, education, and attitudes of patients with CF toward their disease. She then worked for nearly two years in a busy general pediatric genetics clinic before returning to Baltimore to focus solely on CF. Karen helps to coordinate the Twin and Sibling Study and works closely with Dr. Sosnay on the CFTR2 project mentioned above. Outside of work, Karen keeps herself busy with running, Irish dancing, and the Green Bay Packers. Unlike Dr. Sosnay, Karen does, in fact, own a replica of a piece of cheese to wear as a hat.
Tricia Cornwall, Administrative Assistant
Tricia has been Dr. Cutting’s administrative assistant for over 10 years. She prepares and monitors budgets, disburses funds, prepares grant submissions, manuscripts and papers, and for all intents and purposes runs the Cutting Lab.
Dr. Garry Cutting, MD, Principal Investigator
Publications
For a complete list of Dr. Cutting's publications, please click here.
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