Leo Otterbein, PhD

Dr. Otterbein is Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School and joined BIDMC in 2004. He earned his PhD in Physiology at Johns Hopkins University with graduate and postdoctoral training at Yale University and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. His research program investigates gastrotransmitters and danger signaling and their role in health and disease. Dr. Otterbein brings over twenty years of experience as a successful academic researcher and mentor with continued funding, service to the NIH and Department of Defense, as well as the medical school and affiliated institutions. He brings decades of experience in working with technology venture, drug development, and promoting relationships with the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. Collectively, Dr. Otterbein brings unique expertise in guiding career development and is dedicated to teaching and mentoring the next generation of translational researchers.  

As the Translational/Basic Research Career Director, Dr. Otterbein will work one-on-one with our colleagues and in larger settings geared toward advancing translational/basic research careers. This internal facing (BIDMC) role is focused on our colleagues whose efforts require federal grant funding to complete their work with an emphasis on translational and basic science research. The Translational/Basic Research Career Director will work synergistically with the department chairs, HMFP, and others, to integrate resources in support of our faculty in their career progression, including the HMS Investigations promotions track.