Impact Story: David Liss, MD

David Liss, MD
2020 MTF Innovative Teaching & Research Grant Recipient

Project Title: "Liquid Chromatography Tandem-Mass Spectrometry as a Universal Screening Modality for High-Risk Pregnant Patients"
Award Amount: $10,000
Funding Year: 2020-2021

About Dr. Liss

David Liss, MD, is an emergency medicine physician and medical toxicologist. He returned to the Washington University Department of Emergency Medicine and Division of Medical Toxicology as an Assistant Professor after spending a year at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Liss was the inaugural fellow of the Washington University Medical Toxicology Fellowship. He is the course director for the medical student elective in medical toxicology and directs the emergency medicine resident, off-service resident, and pediatric emergency medicine fellow rotations in medical toxicology. He is interested in drug screening and medication assisted opioid addiction treatment. Dr. Liss was accepted into ACMT’s ANTIDOTE Institute Class of 2022.

Q: You were a 2020 Innovation, Research, Teaching and Practice grant recipient. What updates can you share?

A: Data collection is complete and preliminary results were presented as a lighting oral abstract at the ACMT ASM in March 2022. A manuscript with full results is in preparation for submission.

Q. What impact has receiving this grant had regarding your pursuit of additional research ventures going forward?

A:  The grant funding allowed me to obtain data that was subsequently used to apply for a larger institutional grant for $30,000 which was awarded in February 2023. This second project will provide additional data which will be used in an NIH K23 application for June 2024. The support from MTF was enormously important in launching my clinical research career. 

Q: What advice would you offer future applicants or awardees?

A:  When selecting a project, be sure to focus on research which can be completed within the grant period. For novice researchers, project timelines will often stretch out with unforeseen obstacles (like the COVID-19 pandemic). Be realistic in your proposed timelines. Most importantly, finishing the project will show the MTF donors that their contributions are put to good use and will support future researchers behind you.

Q: You also serve on the ASM Abstract Review Committee. Can you share a bit about why you chose to get more involved with the College?

A:  I became involved with the ASM Abstract Review Committee in 2019 and have found it to be an enjoyable sneak peek into the research being submitted to the meetings. It keeps me up to date with the latest theories, thoughts, and bizarre case reports that our colleagues throughout the country are experiencing. It has also helped my own scientific writing and decisions to submit research as abstracts to the ASM. I would encourage all fellows to get involved with the abstract review process.