Prof. Sherin Devaskar | UCLA | United States
Dr. Sherin U. Devaskar is a Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics at UCLA and the Executive Director of the Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute. Renowned for her work in neonatology and developmental biology, Dr. Devaskar has committed her scientific career to unraveling how intrauterine environments influence neonatal and long-term offspring outcomes. Her research spans cellular, molecular, genetic, epigenetic, and physiological mechanisms, specifically focusing on placental biology and metabolic programming. As a leader in her field, she combines clinical excellence with groundbreaking research, translating findings into improvements in pediatric care. She has been recognized nationally for her academic contributions, holding memberships in elite institutions like the National Academy of Medicine. Dr. Devaskar’s research has had a significant impact on public health, particularly in understanding how early life exposures affect lifelong health trajectories. Her translational work bridges laboratory insights with population-based outcomes, making her a respected authority in developmental and environmental health research.
Publication Profiles:
Education:
Dr. Sherin Devaskar began her medical training at Madras Medical College, India, where she earned her M.B.B.S./M.D. in Medicine. She pursued an Internship in Pediatrics (PL1) at the Institute of Child Health, Madras, completing. Seeking advanced clinical training, she moved to the United States and completed a Residency in Pediatrics (PL1 & PL2) at Wayne State Affiliated Hospitals, Detroit, MI. This strong foundation in both Indian and American medical systems gave her a global perspective in pediatrics. Over time, she augmented her clinical training with postdoctoral research and academic development, evolving into a globally recognized expert in neonatal and pediatric medicine. Her education laid the groundwork for a lifelong pursuit of excellence in child health and developmental research, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across medicine, epidemiology, nutrition, and molecular biology.
Experience:
Dr. Devaskar has more than four decades of experience in pediatric medicine, specializing in neonatology and developmental biology. She currently holds the title of Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics at UCLA and serves as the Executive Director of both the Children’s Discovery and Innovation Institute and the Neonatal Research Center. Throughout her career, she has bridged clinical practice with scientific inquiry, directing major NIH-funded projects and mentoring the next generation of physician-scientists. Her work spans bench-to-bedside research on maternal-fetal health, metabolic programming, and placental function. She has held leadership roles in various pediatric research networks and has served on advisory boards for national health agencies. Her professional experience is distinguished not just by volume but also by the interdisciplinary and translational nature of her work. Dr. Devaskar is also a committed educator, having trained countless medical students, residents, and fellows who now contribute meaningfully to pediatric research and care worldwide.
Awards and Honors:
Dr. Sherin Devaskar’s pioneering contributions to pediatric medicine and research have earned her numerous prestigious awards. Most notably, she received the American Pediatric Society John Howland Award, the highest honor in academic pediatrics, recognizing her lifetime achievements in research, education, and leadership. She was honored with the Outstanding Scientific Accomplishments Award by the ATMA Association. Her election to the National Academy of Medicine further highlights her stature among the leading medical scientists in the world. These accolades reflect her sustained commitment to advancing pediatric health through rigorous science, innovation, and mentorship. In addition to these national honors, she is regularly invited to speak at international conferences, review NIH grants, and contribute to influential scientific panels. Her recognition underscores a career dedicated not only to scientific discovery but also to improving the lives of children globally through compassionate, evidence-based care.
Research Focus:
Dr. Devaskar’s research centers on the impact of intrauterine and early-life exposures on fetal and neonatal development, with an emphasis on placental biology, metabolic imprinting, and epigenetic regulation. Her multidisciplinary approach integrates molecular biology, environmental health, physiology, and neonatology, making her a leader in unraveling how prenatal environments shape long-term health outcomes. She has investigated the effects of air pollutants, nutritional mismatches, and oxidative stress on pregnancy outcomes and infant development. Her studies incorporate animal models, human cohorts, and placental tissue analyses to uncover biomarkers and molecular pathways that could be targeted for interventions. Notably, she explores placental resilience, especially under extreme stressors like COVID-19 or urban pollution. Dr. Devaskar’s work has direct translational relevance, offering insight into preventative strategies and therapeutic solutions for adverse pregnancy outcomes, pre-eclampsia, and neonatal hypoglycemia. Her research is frequently published in top-tier journals and is influential in shaping maternal-child health policies.
Publications Top Notes:
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Diet, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and oxidative stress biomarkers in pregnancy: A Los Angeles pregnancy cohort
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Pediatric subspecialty workforce: what is needed to secure its vitality and survival?
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Does Amsterdam criteria applied to largely unsubmitted term placentas with favorable fetal outcomes show significant maternal clinicopathologic correlation?
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Exploring the long-term impacts of neonatal hypoglycemia to determine a safe threshold for glucose concentrations
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Hepatic and Pancreatic Cellular Response to Early Life Nutritional Mismatch
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Ambient exposure to fine particulate matter with oxidative potential affects oxidative stress biomarkers in pregnancy
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Placental Privilege: Evidence of organ resilience in severe COVID-19 in pregnancy
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Omega-3 reverses the metabolic and epigenetically regulated placental phenotype acquired from preconceptional and peri-conceptional exposure to air pollutants
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Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites and their association with oxidative stress among pregnant women in Los Angeles
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Circulating extracellular vesicular microRNA signatures in early gestation show an association with subsequent clinical features of pre-eclampsia