Stefano Guerra, MD, PhD, MPH, was selected to receive the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health Award for Outstanding Research for 2008.  The annual award includes a one-time stipend, and was presented to Dr. Guerra by MEZCOPH Interim Dean Iman Hakim on April 16, 2008 during the University of Arizona’s Awards of Distinction Ceremony at the Student Union Ballroom. Dr. Guerra serves a joint appointment as an Assistant Professor in the UA Zuckerman College of Public Health and the UA College of Medicine, and is the Director of the MEZCOPH Epidemiology Master of Public Health (MPH) degree concentration.

Dr. Guerra’s nomination letters emphasized that he has far exceeded expectations for his current rank of Assistant Professor.  

“Dr. Guerra’s achievements would be considered impressive for an Associate or Full Professor, but for an Assistant Professor they are exceptional,”

said one letter.   He is the Principal Investigator (PI) on three grants: an R21 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) which relates to the biomarkers of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and two foundation grants (from the American Heart Association and the Parker B. Francis Foundation) which were studies on the genetic epidemiology of asthma and COPD. A fourth project, on which he was a co-investigator, pertains to the natural history of asthma and started through an R01 grant mechanism in July, 2006.  In addition, he is a co-investigator on another recently funded R01 project that studies the molecular and genetic epidemiology of sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass in older persons, particularly postmenopausal women.  MEZCOPH's Dr. Zhao Chen is the Principal Investigator of the sarcopenia study.

Dr. Guerra uses his projects and studies to engage his Graduate Research Assistants and independent studies students in scientific research.  Two doctoral students, one master’s student, and one undergraduate student were involved in and partially funded by these projects.  Another three graduate and three undergraduate students have participated in these projects through independent studies.

It is important to note that Dr. Guerra's work has led to an impressive seven publications in peer-reviewed journals in 2007 (five published papers and two in press as of April, 2008), including a paper in the Lancet and one in the Annual Review of  Medicine, as well as four contributions to books.  Dr. Guerra has presented findings of his research in three extramural presentations.  (Research conducted on behalf of the National Institutes of Health by non-NIH scientists at non-NIH sites is extramural. NIH grantees and contractors, such as UA-MEZCOPH scientists, are considered extramural, also.) He has had eight abstracts — with four as first author — accepted for presentation at the last two International Conferences of the American Thoracic Society, the leading scientific organization focusing on pulmonary medicine. 

Left to right:  Dr. Guerra and his award certificate; Mrs. Guerra; Dr. Duane Sherrill, MEZCOPH Associate Dean for Research; and Mrs. Sherrill at the UA Awards of Distinction Ceremony on April 16,2008.

Service on NIH Study Sections

Dr. Guerra has also made substantial service contributions by being on four National Institutes of Health study sections.  NIH study sections employ a peer-review system to identify the most promising research for treating, curing and preventing a particular disease.   A study section typically includes twenty or more productive research scientists, and its members are selected on the basis of demonstrated competence and achievement in their scientific disciplines.   The study section members review grant proposals submitted to NIH from scientists in a specific type of medicine or public health, evaluate them, and then recommend which should be funded in the review process.

Research Interests and Education

In 2003, Dr. Guerra received his PhD at the University of Arizona where he had a major in Epidemiology and a minor in Genetics.  His doctoral dissertation was titled “Risk Factors for Incidence and Persistence of Asthma-like Symptoms.”  His dissertation advisor was Duane L. Sherrill, Ph.D, who is the MEZCOPH Associate Dean for Research.  Dr. Guerra's Master of Public Health degree was received in 2001 with a concentration in Epidemiology at the University of Arizona.    He received his M.D. in 1996 from the University of Milan in Italy, and held a fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine at the University of Milan.  Dr. Guerra’s research interests are:

• Molecular and genetic epidemiology of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Innate immunity genes in asthma and COPD
• Shared molecular pathways in COPD and lung cancer
• The relation of early maturation of the immune system to subsequent disease risk
• Gene-by-environment interactions in complex diseases
• Methodological issues in genetic association studies

Genetic Predisposition vs. Environmental Exposures

Understanding the complex nature of the interactions between genetic predisposition and effects of environmental exposures or factors is essential to future treatment and prevention plans and will have major public health and clinical practice implications.  Dr. Guerra’s research towards better understanding the genetic contribution in respiratory diseases places him firmly on the leading edge of the field.   As one of the few MEZCOPH faculty members who perform genetic association studies and analyses, Dr. Guerra is filling a critical gap within the spectrum of researchers at the College and the Arizona Health Sciences Center (AHSC). 

Thank you, Dr. Guerra, for your hard work, dedication and leadership at The University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health!

Written on June 4, 2008.  Please send comments and corrections to Loretta McKibben.