March of Dimes Honors Two Groundbreaking Researchers with 2025 Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Awards
March of Dimes Honors Two Groundbreaking Researchers with 2025 Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Awards
On December 4, 2025, March of Dimes, a leading organization in maternal and infant health research, announced the winners of its prestigious 2025 Basil O'Connor Starter Scholar Research Awards. This accolade recognizes extraordinary early-career scientists dedicated to enhancing maternal and infant health.
The two recipients, Dr. Christina Megli and Dr. Sarah Morton, each received a grant of $150,000 to support their innovative research projects. Dr. Megli, an assistant professor and high-risk obstetrician at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, is focusing on the role of macrophage cells in the amniotic sac. These macrophages, often regarded as the body's