Nicholas P. Reder, M.D.,MPH

2018 Benjamin Castleman Award

Dr. Reder received his medical degree from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois. During medical school, he worked with Dr. Richard Cooper’s genomics group. This research experience was his first exposure to data science and large databases and led to a first-author publication in PLOS ONE on the use of pathway-focused analysis to determine genetic risk factors for hypertension. His master’s work in epidemiology focused on the genetic risk determinants of restless legs syndrome and the syndrome’s association with hypertension, under the guidance of Dr. David Rye in Emory University’s Department of Neurology. Residency training at the University of Washington followed with a clinical focus, but Dr. Reder quickly committed to a fast-track physician scientist pathway, inspired by his mentor, Dr. Lawrence True. Dr. Reder envisioned a career in applying advances in microscopy and quantitative analysis to prostate pathology, and initiated a research partnership with Dr. Jonathan Liu, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. He spent his third year of residency as a clinical research fellow in Dr. Liu’s biophotonics lab, codeveloping a novel light-sheet microscope. Their successful collaboration resulted in co-first author publications in Nature Biomedical Engineering and Cancer Research, multiple presentations, multiple pilot grant awards, a patent, and a startup company (“Alpenglow Optics”). Their light-sheet microscopy work received acclaim from a wide audience in academics and the media, including a blog post by Dr. Francis Collins on his NIH Director’s Blog.

During residency, Dr. Reder’s accomplishments include 8 publications, 22 abstracts, 3 best poster awards, development of an educational software tool and selection as a junior member on the CAP In-Vivo Microscopy Committee. He is currently completing training as a genitourinary pathology fellow under the mentorship of Dr. True. He will begin as an instructor in the Department of Pathology at the University of Washington in July, 2018, with 80% research and 20% clinical responsibilities. He looks forward to joining the vibrant academic pathology community as an attending pathologist after completion of fellowship training, and continuing to share his work on light-sheet microscopy and computational pathology with his colleagues.