Dr. Cintia Citterio has been honored as a recipient of the 2024 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) New Investigator Award (NIA) for her proposal “Molecular Pathogenesis of Thyroid Cystinosis and New Therapeutic Approaches.”

The AACP NIA is a highly competitive achievement that offers $11,000 to exceptional early-career pharmacy faculty members, placing Dr. Citterio as one of only four four pharmacy researchers across the entire United States to receive this recognition in 2024. This seed funding is crucial for establishing independent research programs and collecting preliminary data that can be used to secure even larger grants in the future, ultimately accelerating advancements in pharmaceutical science and improve patient care.

Dr. Citterio’s research investigates the molecular causes of thyroid cystinosis, a disorder that impairs the body’s ability to manage the amino acid cystine, leading to organ damage, including the thyroid gland. Her work shows promise for identifying new therapeutic approaches to manage this condition and with outcomes that will likely have ripple affects pointing the way for future research and discoveries.