Principal Investigator
Dr. David Hill is a physician-scientist with expertise in experimental and translational immunology. He is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and an Attending Pediatric Allergist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Dr. Hill leads a research program focused on immune regulation in allergic and metabolic diseases, with the goal of advancing diagnostics and treatments for children with food allergy, eosinophilic esophagitis, asthma, and obesity-related inflammation.
Education and Training
Dr. Hill received his undergraduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University and earned his MD and PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. His doctoral research, conducted in the laboratory of Dr. David Artis, uncovered a novel mechanism by which intestinal commensal bacteria modulate allergic lung inflammation.
He completed his residency in pediatrics and fellowship in allergy and immunology at CHOP, where he trained with Drs. Jonathan Spergel and Robert Grundmeier. During this time, he conducted clinical and informatics-based research identifying novel associations between allergic conditions. Dr. Hill then pursued postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Dr. Mitchell Lazar, where he studied macrophage populations that regulate adipose tissue function and systemic metabolic health.
Research Leadership and Professional Roles
Dr. Hill established his independent laboratory at Penn and CHOP in 2019. He is an active member of the Penn Immunology and Cell and Molecular Biology graduate groups, serves on the Penn MD/PhD Admissions Committee, and contributes to the CHOP Department of Pediatrics Research Council.
He has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals including Nature, Cell, Nature Medicine, Science Translational Medicine, Cell Metabolism, Nature Communications, and Pediatrics. He serves as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH and foundation-funded grants and is a member of the Editorial Board of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Nationally, Dr. Hill is engaged with the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), where he contributes to several committees and working groups focused on food allergy and asthma.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Hill’s work has been recognized with several prestigious honors, including:
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American Society for Clinical Investigation Young Physician-Scientist Award
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Hartwell Foundation Individual Biomedical Research Award
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AAAAI Faculty Development Award
Outside the Lab
Dr. Hill lives in Philadelphia with his wife and two children. He is an avid gardener and home cook with a strong commitment to building healthy, connected communities. He leads the gardening club at his children’s school and organizes a neighborhood soup group to foster mutual support among neighbors.