Dr. Steven Hicks’ translational research identifies molecular biomarkers that inform child growth, neurodevelopment, and disease. He is also the director of the Pediatric Clinical Research Office in the Department of Pediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine. His largest projects involve: saliva biomarkers for early detection of childhood autism; the impact of the breastmilk micro-transcriptome on infant health outcomes; and micro-ribonucleic acid (microRNA) expression in concussion. In Dr. Hicks’ role as director of research for the Division of Academic General Pediatrics, he oversees studies that involve patients at the pediatric outpatient clinic. He is also the physician director of the Pediatric Research Resources Office.