March 27, 2025
FAER is immensely proud of the physician-investigators who pass through the Foundation’s doors and go on to help shape our specialty, both through their research and their mentorship of the aspiring anesthesiology researchers who come after them. One such exceptional grantee and program participant is Soban Umar, MD, PhD, FAHA, ATSF, of the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. We are very pleased to take this opportunity to highlight Dr. Umar, his experience with FAER, and his research journey.
Dr. Umar first engaged with FAER via its Resident Scholar Program (RSP) in 2014, attending the annual ANESTHESIOLOGY convention and presenting a research poster as part of the Foundation’s research symposium. He went on to be awarded a two-year Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG) in 2015 for his research on the “Role of the Novel MicroRNA 125b-3p in Combined Pulmonary Fibrosis and Pulmonary Hypertension.” The funding and mentorship offered by his FAER grant helped prepare Dr. Umar for his NIH K08 grant awarded in 2019.
Since the completion of his MRTG, Dr. Umar has hosted and mentored medical students annually as they take their first steps into the world of anesthesiology research through FAER’s Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF), paying the mentorship and support he received early in his career forward to the specialty’s next generation of investigators. In keeping with this spirit of giving, beginning in 2022, Dr. Umar assumed the mantle of UCLA’s Team Captain for FAER’s annual Academic Giving Competition (AGC), serving as spokesperson for his department and encouraging his colleagues to donate to FAER during the 12-day competition.
In the hopes of sharing the insights and experiences Dr. Umar has accumulated in his time with FAER and anesthesiology research, we reached out to him with a series of questions focused on his research journey. We are pleased to share his responses with you below.
How would you describe your first interaction with FAER through the Resident Scholar Program (RSP)?
"My RSP experience with FAER was outstanding. I had the opportunity to attend the American Society of Anesthesiologists’ (ASA) annual ANESTHESIOLOGY meeting to present my research and interact with leaders in the field of anesthesiology in specially arranged sessions. RSP also served as a vital networking opportunity for my future academic growth."
Following your time as a Resident Scholar, you went on to be awarded Mentored Research Training Grant (MRTG) in 2015. Can you tell us a little bit about your experience with the MRTG and how it contributed to your research career?
"I was honored to receive the MRTG during my residency. The MRTG was instrumental in enabling me to start my career as a funded physician-scientist right after completing my residency training. The MRTG played a vital role in my career development and served as a steppingstone for my NIH K08 grant."
Building on the previous question, can you tell us briefly about the focus of your research and how it has grown and/or changed from your MRTG to today?
"For the MRTG, my research was focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of pulmonary hypertension secondary to pulmonary fibrosis. The MRTG provided the protected research time and the framework to successfully attain my NIH K08 grant (2019-24) and advance our understanding on the topic. We were able to publish our high-impact work, and we continue to publish more papers on the topic. The MRTG and NIH K08 eventually helped me to become independently funded investigator with an R01 grant awarded in 2022."
Beginning in 2018, you’ve served as a mentor for FAER’s Medical Student Anesthesia Research Fellowship (MSARF) on an annual basis. Can you tell us a little about your experience with the MSARF program and what drew you to it?
"My experience with the FAER MSARF Program has been really fulfilling. We have had the distinct pleasure of hosting some very talented medical students in our lab who have gone on to become accomplished physicians and physician-scientists. Physician-scientists in anesthesiology are an “endangered species” in medicine. Programs like FAER’s MSARF are pivotal in encouraging medical students to do research in the field of anesthesiology and motivate them to pursue a research career in anesthesiology."
Why would you encourage aspiring anesthesiologists to consider a career in research and academia?
"Anesthesiology is an excellent field for physician-scientists. It provides a good division of their time spent in the OR and in research. As a basic scientist and thoracic anesthesiologist, I find it very helpful to spend my clinical days in the OR and my non-clinical days in the lab without any conflicts between the two commitments."
How would you describe the value of the various FAER grants and programs you’ve participated in? Are there particular aspects you found most rewarding?
"FAER plays a vital role in the career development of physicians and physician-scientists in anesthesiology. FAER’s MSARF, RSP, and various Mentored Research Training Grants (MRTG) are precious resources for trainees and practicing anesthesiologists. The protected research time during the MRTG funding goes a long way in developing a strong research proposal for further extramural funding and career development."
What advice would you off to those interested in pursuing anesthesia research and/or FAER grant funding?
"I highly recommend pursuing a research career in anesthesiology. My advice is to seek mentorship that can guide you in your research and in the application procedure for fellowship/grant funding. Seeking guidance from prior awardees is also very helpful in navigating the application process. The FAER staff is also extremely helpful in answering any questions applicants might have."
Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to share with our audience or anything you’d like to highlight about your experience as a Team Captain for the Academic Giving Competition?
"I have the distinct privilege of serving as the Team Captain for UCLA for the FAER Academic Giving Competition (AGC) since its inception. This has been a fun way to raise funds for FAER and raise awareness to support the next generation of physician-scientists in anesthesiology."
We hope you have enjoyed learning about Dr. Umar and his anesthesiology research journey, and that you will join FAER in thanking him for his contributions as a physician, scientist, mentor, and donor to our specialty, its investigators, and its patients.
For those interested in pursuing the same types of FAER support Dr. Umar benefited from and has participated in, follow the links to learn more about these opportunities and how to get involved!
THE FOUNDATION FOR ANESTHESIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH (FAER)
FAER is a related organization of the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA). For over 35 years, FAER has been dedicated to developing the next generation of physician-investigators in anesthesiology. Charitable contributions and support to FAER help fuel the future of anesthesiology through scientific discovery. Funding priorities include: Research, Education, and Training. At the time of this article's publication, FAER has awarded more than $58 million in research grants and programs since 1986. To donate to FAER, visit FAER.org/donate.
Curated by: BH
Last updated by: BH
Date of last update: March 27, 2025
email: [email protected]
site: FAER.org
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