The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute names Dr. Julie Panepinto Director of the Division of Blood Diseases and Resources

WHAT:  The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) announces new director of its Division of Blood Diseases and Resources

WHO: Julie Panepinto, M.D., MSPH

WHEN: Dr. Panepinto will start her new NHLBI position on January 15, 2023.

WHERE: NHLBI of the National Institutes of Health

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY:

Dr. Julie Panepinto, a pediatric hematologist, researcher, and champion for helping people living with sickle cell disease (SCD), is the new director of NHLBI’s Division of Blood Diseases and Resources (DBDR) as of January 15, 2023. She joined DBDR in June 2021 as its Deputy Director, then served as Acting Director after former DBDR Director Keith Hoots, M.D., retired in April 2022.  

Dr. Panepinto has pioneered hemoglobinopathy research with a focus on evaluating therapeutic interventions for patients. She is recognized for her expertise in understanding and improving the health outcomes of patients and families navigating chronic conditions. This includes developing and using patient perspectives and patient-reported outcomes to enhance clinical care for individuals. Prior to joining NHLBI, Dr. Panepinto was a tenured Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Center for Clinical Effectiveness Research at the Children’s Research Institute/Children’s Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. She received her Doctor of Medicine from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and a Master of Science in Public Health from the University of Colorado Sciences Center. 

Dr. Panepinto served on NHLBI’s Advisory Council between 2020–2021, NHLBI’s Sickle Cell Disease Advisory Committee between 2016-2019, and on NHLBI’s Data and Safety Monitoring Board for the Sickle Cell Disease Clinical Research Network between 2006-2010. Additionally, she spearheaded establishing an international registry of patients with SCD and COVID-19, which is helping scientists study associations between SCD and severe COVID complications.     

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