Each year, the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine grants its Next Generation Fellowship awards to promising early career professionals in a range of medical genetics and genomics specialties including Clinical Genetics, Clinical Biochemical Genetics, Laboratory Genetics and Genomics, Medical Biochemical Genetics and Ophthalmic Genetics. Support for this year’s class of fellows was generously provided by Bionano, Pfizer, Sanofi, Spark Therapeutics, and Takeda. The ACMG Foundation depends on corporate donations to support these and many other critical programs and thanks all the members of our Corporate Partners Program.
“These four recipients of the 2025 ACMG Foundation Next Generation fellowship awards truly exemplify the future of our field. These clinician scientists are the best and the brightest, and are doing work that is making significant impact, moving the field of genomics to the next level. I am indebted to their work ethic and enthusiasm,” said Nancy J. Mendelsohn, MD, FACMG, president of the ACMG Foundation.
Clinical Biochemical Genetics Fellowship Award:
Rafael Garrett da Costa, PhD
Rafael Garrett da Costa, PhD, is currently a Senior Staff Scientist at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. He holds a BSc in Pharmacy as well as an MSc and PhD in Chemistry from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With a background in mass spectrometry and metabolomics, he developed a passion for investigating rare metabolic disorders and developing new methods for laboratory diagnosis. Over the course of his career, Dr. Garrett da Costa has authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, contributed to two book chapters, filed three patent applications and mentored several students. For the past five years, his work has focused on inborn errors of metabolism, aiming to bridge innovative diagnostic approaches with patient care.
“I am truly honored and excited to receive the Next Generation Fellowship and Training Award from the ACMG Foundation. This award offers a unique opportunity for me to deepen my knowledge in clinical biochemical genetics. I am committed to translating this experience into better patient testing and care,” said Dr. Garrett da Costa.
Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Fellowship Award:
Atlas Sardoo, PhD, National Institutes of Health
Atlas Sardoo, PhD is a scientist at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) specializing in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and translational research. With a PhD in Human Genetics, her work focuses on understanding the role of viral infections in liver cancer and developing risk prediction models. Passionate about bridging bioinformatics and clinical diagnostics, Dr. Sardoo is preparing to pursue the Laboratory Genetics and Genomics Fellowship to apply her expertise to genetic testing and patient care.
Upon receiving the award, Dr. Sardoo said, “I am deeply honored to receive the Next Generation Award. This recognition motivates me to continue advancing my work in clinical genetics and to make meaningful contributions to patient care through genomic research.”
Ophthalmic Genetics Specialty Fellowship Award:
Emily S. Levine, MD, MTM, Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health and Science University
Dr. Levine received her BA in Biology with a minor in computer science from Bryn Mawr College in 2012, graduating magna cum laude with departmental honors. She spent several years working in a retinal physiology lab at the University of California Davis before pursuing a Masters in Translational Medicine at UC Berkeley/UCSF. Dr. Levine subsequently earned her medical degree with research honors from Tufts University School of Medicine, during which she dedicated an additional research year as the Optical Coherence Tomography Research Fellow at the New England Eye Center. Dr. Levine currently serves as a chief ophthalmology resident at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. She will begin a clinical fellowship in ophthalmic genetics at the Casey Eye Institute of Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR this summer.
“It is an immeasurable honor to receive the Next Generation Award and serve families affected by genetic eye conditions,” said Dr. Levine.
Medical Biochemical Genetics Subspecialty Fellowship Award:
Daniel R. Brooks, MD, Baylor College of Medicine
Dr. Daniel R. Brooks is currently a resident in the combined Pediatrics/Medical Genetics and Genomics program at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital, where he combines clinical expertise with a passion for patient advocacy and ensuring equitable healthcare delivery. He earned his MD from the University of Michigan Medical School and completed his undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of Pennsylvania.
His contributions span research on prenatal genetic diagnostics, rare disease identification and expanding genetic services to underserved populations. Dr. Brooks has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications, with work featured in journals such as Human Genetics and Prenatal Diagnosis. His role in the NIH-funded Project GIVE highlights his dedication to addressing healthcare disparities by using telehealth to provide genetic testing to underserved Hispanic communities in the Rio Grande Valley.
Dr. Brooks has received multiple honors, including the NIH Biomedical Research Training Grant and a Fulbright Fellowship, recognizing his commitment to advancing genetic medicine and improving patient outcomes. He is grateful for the ACMGF Next Generation Fellowship award and looks forward to continuing his training in Medical Biochemical Genetics and advancing his career goals.
"I am grateful for the ACMGF Next Generation Fellowship award and the opportunity to be recognized among such distinguished peers. My work is rooted in the belief that genetic medicine should be accessible to everyone, not just a privileged few. This recognition reaffirms my mission to bridge diagnostic gaps and bring the benefits of genomic advances in inborn errors of metabolism to underserved communities," said Dr. Brooks about receiving the award.
About the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine
The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a community of supporters and contributors who understand the importance of medical genetics and genomics in healthcare. Established in 1992, the ACMG Foundation supports the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) mission to “translate genes into health.” Through its work, the ACMG Foundation fosters charitable giving, promotes training opportunities to attract future medical geneticists and genetic counselors to the field, shares information about medical genetics and genomics, and sponsors important research. To learn more and support the ACMG Foundation mission to create “Better Health through Genetics” visit acmgfoundation.org.
Note to editors: To arrange interviews with experts in medical genetics, contact ACMG Communications Manager, Barry Eisenberg, MS at beisenberg@acmg.net.