Each year, when UNMC’s emerging and top researchers are recognized, it is clear that the depth and breadth of their work continues to expand.
UNMC researchers discover new cells and genes. They investigate how new compounds and genes work inside cells and in animals that have been specially developed to model human diseases.
They work to understand if the processes and markers found in those cells or animals are relevant to people.
Then they consider whether medications or other interventions that block or stimulate those processes can prevent or change the course of disease.
Scientists are not limited to bench research. They also look at large groups of population data to find new patterns or trends and create new interventions to change the health of communities.
Increasingly, science requires interprofessional teams. Information that is found in one setting can often prove to be more important to a completely different system or disease.
Sometimes new discoveries happen rapidly and sometimes it takes years to achieve a goal.
The 2014 roster of Distinguished Scientists, New Investigators, Research Leadership and Community Service to Research Award recipients represents the largest number to be recognized in the nine years of the award’s history.
They represent the UNMC Colleges of Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, the Munroe-Meyer Institute and the Eppley Institute for Research in Cancer and Allied Diseases.
Ten Distinguished Scientists were honored for their outstanding research programs, published research results in journals of the highest quality and the ability to attract and retain extramural funding.
The Scientist Laureate must meet all the criteria for Distinguished Scientist and conduct research at UNMC for a minimum of five years prior to the award year. The 2014 recipient is Tatiana Bronich, Ph.D., professor of pharmaceutical sciences in the College of Pharmacy. She was first recognized in 2007 as a New Investigator and then in 2011 as a Distinguished Scientist.
Nine New Investigator awards went to outstanding UNMC scientists who, in the past one to three years, secured their first funding from federal sources. New Investigators also demonstrated scholarly activity in published research and presentations at national conventions.
Scientists who are leaders are particularly valuable. This year, five scientists who have proven to be leaders over the years were given the Research Leadership Award. All had been previously recognized as Distinguished Scientists, have maintained a longstanding research funding history and serve as research leaders and mentors on campus.
The Community Service to Research Award went to Jane Rips in recognition of her significant contributions to research as a tireless volunteer who has a long history of actively supporting and advocating for cancer research at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center.
Said Jennifer Larsen, M.D., vice chancellor for research: "As always, it is the researchers that lead us forward…and it is their work and their achievements we celebrate."
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View photos from the Distinguished Scientists Award ceremony.