Tatiana Bronich, Ph.D., professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy and co-director of the Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, has been named UNMC's ninth Scientist Laureate.
The award is the highest honor UNMC bestows to researchers.
Dr. Bronich was honored along with 24 other researchers recently named UNMC Distinguished Scientist, New Investigator and Research Leadership award winners for 2014.
Dr. Bronich's research deals with self-assembling polymer materials and applications of these materials in medicine.
"The individuals who receive UNMC's Scientist Laureate Award are recognized for their sustained commitment to research excellence and productivity," said Courtney Fletcher, Pharm.D., dean of the UNMC College of Pharmacy. "This isn't an award someone receives for resting on their accomplishments or waiting their turn.
"Dr. Bronich is the epitome of the scientist laureate," he said. "She has made and continues to make exceptional research accomplishments; she is tireless in her pursuit of new knowledge and advancing the science of drug delivery to improve treatment outcomes. She is a dedicated mentor and teacher, and a good academic citizen of the College of Pharmacy and UNMC.
"Her recognition as the 2014 UNMC Scientist Laureate is well deserved and most appropriate — and I am personally thrilled by this recognition for all that she has accomplished," Dr. Fletcher said.
"Dr. Bronich is not only an outstanding scientist, but directs a large center that has increased our national visibility in nanomedicine, and is a wonderful mentor," said Jennifer Larsen, M.D., vice chancellor for research.
In addition, five UNMC researchers received the Research Leadership Award. This award is intended to honor scientists previously recognized as Distinguished Scientists who have a longstanding research funding history and also serve as research leaders and mentors on campus.
Research Leadership Award recipients:
- Hamid Band, M.D., Ph.D., Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases
- Michael Brattain, Ph.D., Eppley Institute
- Keith Johnson, Ph.D., College of Dentistry
- Joseph Sisson, M.D., College of Medicine
- Kay-Uwe Wagner, Ph.D, Eppley Institute
Ten scientists received the Distinguished Scientist Award. This award, which is sponsored by the UNMC chancellor, recognizes researchers who have been among the most productive scientists in the country during the past five years.
Distinguished Scientist Award recipients:
- Yazen Alnouti, Ph.D., College of Pharmacy
- Kaustubh Datta, Ph.D., College of Medicine
- Cyrus DeSouza, M.B.B.S., College of Medicine
- Santhi Gorantla, Ph.D., College of Medicine
- Chittibabu Guda, Ph.D., College of Medicine
- David Oupicky, Ph.D., College of Pharmacy
- Jill Poole, M.D., College of Medicine
- Pankaj Singh, Ph.D., Eppley Institute
- Philip Smith, M.D., College of Medicine
- Jing Wang, Ph.D., Eppley Institute
Nine scientists received New Investigator Awards. This award goes to outstanding scientists who in the past two years have secured their first funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense or other national sources. New Investigators also had to demonstrate scholarly activity such as publishing their research and/or presenting their findings at national conventions.
New Investigator Award recipients:
- Kishor Bhakat, Ph.D., College of Medicine
- Erika Boesen, Ph.D., College of Medicine
- Jixin Dong, Ph.D., Eppley Institute
- Monirul Islam, M.D., Ph.D., College of Public Health
- Max Kurz, Ph.D., Munroe-Meyer Institute
- Paras Mishra, Ph.D., College of Medicine
- Natalia Osna, M.D., Ph.D., College of Medicine
- Melissa Teoh-Fitzgerald, Ph.D., College of Medicine
- Lufei Young, Ph.D., College of Nursing
A campus ceremony will be held Feb. 2 to recognize the award recipients, as well as the winner of the Community Service to Research Award, who will be announced later.
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