FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2026
APS and SPR Honor Dr. Francis Sessions Cole, III, with the 2027 Mary Ellen Avery Neonatal Research Award
The American Pediatric Society (APS) and the Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) are pleased to announce Francis Sessions Cole, III, MD, as the 2027 Mary Ellen Avery Neonatal Research Award recipient. This award honors a pediatric investigator who has made important contributions to neonatal health through basic or translational research.
Dr. Cole is Professor of Pediatrics, Emeritus, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a senior leader in the NIH-funded Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN). As one of Dr. Avery’s mentees at Boston Children’s Hospital, he was inspired by her groundbreaking research on pulmonary surfactant and its role in infant lung function. Dr. Cole’s contributions have expanded understanding of the genetics and epidemiology of surfactant dysfunction and congenital disease, while his more recent work has advanced the use of genomic medicine to diagnose complex pediatric conditions. This expertise has earned him national and international recognition, including leadership and advisory roles with organizations and committees dedicated to advancing child health, among them the March of Dimes National Board of Trustees.
In 2013, the APS and SPR established and endowed the Mary Ellen Avery Award. This award honors Dr. Avery’s outstanding lifetime achievements and seminal contributions to neonatal health through her discovery of respiratory distress syndrome, research, academic leadership, and outstanding service to pediatrics and neonatology.
“The Mary Ellen Avery Neonatal Research Award is designed to honor an investigator who has made outstanding contributions to neonatal health. Dr. Cole has built an extraordinary career advancing neonatal medicine through scientific discovery, clinical innovation, genomic medicine, leadership, and mentorship. His pioneering work helped define the genetic basis and clinical spectrum of neonatal surfactant dysfunction, including disorders involving SFTPB, ABCA3, SFTPC, and FOXF1, establishing important foundations for precision medicine in neonatal lung disease. Dr. Cole has further transformed pediatric genomic medicine through his leadership in the NIH-funded Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN). His research also demonstrated the impact of surfactant therapy on racial disparities in neonatal mortality, linking scientific discovery with health equity. Dr. Cole’s career reflects the enduring legacy of Mary Ellen Avery: rigorous science, transformative discovery, compassionate care, and an unwavering commitment to improving the lives of newborns and their families. Please join APS and SPR in congratulating Dr. Cole on this richly deserved recognition.”
— Dr. Tamera Coyne-Beasley, President, American Pediatric Society
“The Society for Pediatric Research is deeply honored to present the 2027 Mary Ellen Avery Award to Dr. Francis Sessions Cole,” said Joyce Javier, MD, MPH, MS, FAAP, President of the Society for Pediatric Research. Dr. Cole’s extraordinary career has advanced both the science and practice of neonatal medicine, and he has been a visionary in applying genomic approaches to understand phenotypic variation in diseases affecting newborns, while building a legacy through the physician-scientists he has trained. His mentorship has shaped generations of translational scientists, and his influence is reflected in the many investigators who have gone on to lead successful academic programs and publish important studies under his tutelage.
Beyond his scientific contributions, Dr. Cole has had a lasting impact as a mentor, educator, and advocate. He has trained more than one hundred fellows and helped prepare a new generation of physician-scientists to use genomic approaches to better understand variations in how diseases affect newborns. His leadership has also extended to health policy, advocacy, and patient-centered care. Reflecting his deep commitment to patients and their families, Dr. Cole established a bereavement program to support parents who experienced the loss of a child in the NICU.
Dr. Cole received his MD from Yale School of Medicine and completed his pediatrics residency and neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School. He maintained continuous research funding from 1996 until his transition to emeritus status in 2024, serving as principal investigator or co-principal investigator on numerous NIH grants. Dr. Cole has also contributed his expertise to the NIH as a reviewer and member of multiple study sections.
For more information about Dr. Cole and the Mary Ellen Avery Award, please visit the APS or SPR websites.
About the American Pediatric Society
The American Pediatric Society (APS) founded in 1888 as the first pediatric society in North America, is committed to strengthening academic pediatrics by expanding the workforce, nurturing leaders, and developing innovative approaches to address child and adolescent health challenges. APS’s more than 1,800 members are recognized leaders in pediatrics who work together to advance the Society’s vision of a healthier future for all children and adolescents. For more information, please visit aps1888.org, and follow us on Facebook and X.
About the Society for Pediatric Research
The Society for Pediatric Research (SPR) cultivates a diverse network of child health researchers through collaboration, community, mentorship, and advocacy. Since 1929, SPR has connected and empowered pediatric scientists across North America and the Caribbean who are dedicated to advancing scientific discovery and improving child health. Today, SPR serves more than 4,200 researchers united by a shared vision of promoting child health through a flourishing community of diverse researchers at the forefront of scientific discovery. For more information, please visit societyforpediatricresearch.org, and follow us on : LinkedIn, X, and Bluesky.
Media Contacts:
Lisa Thompson
Association Director
American Pediatric Society
(346) 258-6247
lthompson@aps1888.org
Liz Giannini
Association Director
Society for Pediatric Research
(346) 258-6257
liz.giannini@societyforpediatricresearch.org