Sriram Venneti, MD, PhD, appointed as the inaugural Al and Robert Glick Family Research Professor in Pediatrics

By Lynn McCain | April 30 2021

We are pleased to announce that Sriram Venneti, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Neuropathology in the Department of Pathology with a joint appointment in Pediatrics, was appointed as the inaugural Al and Robert Glick Family Research Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, April 1, 2021. “Sriram has proven to be an exceptionally talented scientist, clinician, and colleague since joining us in 2014,” stated Dr. Charles Parkos, Chair of Pathology. “This is a well-deserved honor.” Please join us in congratulating him.

The professorship was established on March 1, 2021, through a generous gift from the Al and Robert Glick families to honor the memory of Chad Carr, the son and grandson of the Lloyd Carr family, who passed away from a pediatric brain tumor. Venneti was selected as an ideal candidate for this professorship, which is intended to “support a faculty member in the Department of Pediatrics with the expertise to further research advances in Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma and other pediatric brain cancers, and to bring hope to families and children impacted by pediatric brain tumors.” Venneti has made seminal contributions to the field, including analysis of biomarkers that may have clinical significance in pediatric brain cancers in the near future. His work has been repeatedly recognized through awards, including the Doris Duke Clinical Scientist Development Award, the Sidney Kimmel Scholar Award, the American Society for Clinical Investigation Young Physician Scientist Award, and the Sontag Foundation Distinguished Scientist Award.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be named the recipient of the inaugural Glick professorship,” said Venneti. “Al Glick’s words about Michigan football ring true about our efforts to defeat DIPG. ‘It’s not about individuals. We want everybody to work together.’ This is reflective of our efforts at the Chad Carr Pediatric Brain Tumor Center and this generous support will make a huge difference in our continuing to fight against DIPG.”

The professorship communication to the Regents (March 25, 2021) provides background information on the Glick family’s gifts. “Al and Robert Glick founded Alro Steel in 1948 in Jackson, Michigan. They are well-known for their philanthropy to their community and the University of Michigan. In 2009, Al and Robert Glick generously built the Al Glick Field House to facilitate indoor practice for the University of Michigan football team. They also sponsored the Coach Carr Pediatric Cancer Unit at C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. The Glick family has established numerous foundations with the goal of supporting and enhancing youth programs, helping the underprivileged, improving children’s health, and assisting with manufacturing and education and training. Robert Glick died in 2001 at age 84. This professorship will honor the generosity of the Glick family, the memory of Chad Carr, and will further advance research for pediatric brain cancers.”